The Curious Engineer

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Rob Mensching

robmensching.com/blog

The personal musings of Rob Mensching.

Dev tools / editors / IDEsSoftware / engineering practiceEssays / personal

’05’10’15’20’25
Posts
355 from 9 Sep 2003 to 30 Jul 2026
Posting
monthly (7 in the last year)
Kind
personal blog
Feed
https://robmensching.com/blog/rss.xml

2026 7

  1. I saw Hadestown in the movie theater this weekend.... | RobMensching.com
  2. Eduforcement
  3. WiX Toolset surpasses 300 sponsors
  4. I have mixed feelings about Cloudflare acquiring V... | RobMensching.com
  5. Forty Nine
  6. Open Source Maintenance Fee v1.1
  7. How can Tailwind CSS be so popular yet still struggle with sustainability?

2025 5

  1. Wow, inbox zero again. I guess it is time to go wr... | RobMensching.com
  2. Open Source Maintenance Fee Two Months In
  3. Deployment Dojo Season 2 Moves to FireGiant
  4. Introducing the Open Source Maintenance Fee
  5. Forty Eight

2024 13

  1. We are living in the Second Generation of Open Sou... | RobMensching.com
  2. My brain is on fire. I'm juggling two major projec... | RobMensching.com
  3. I disabled the WiX Toolset GitHub Discussions to s... | RobMensching.com
  4. Twenty years maintaining the WiX Toolset
  5. What could be done to support Open Source maintainers?
  6. A Microcosm of the interactions in Open Source projects
  7. After a couple hours of experimentation, I think I... | RobMensching.com
  8. I just created the label `oop-ba-unsquashed` befor... | RobMensching.com
  9. Year Forty Seven
  10. Albert Rusnak The Movie. This is really cool from ... | RobMensching.com
  11. Casey calls it "the future interface for all compu... | RobMensching.com
  12. Listening to Trent Reznor talk with Rick Rubin, it... | RobMensching.com
  13. New Year. New Blog.

2022 2

  1. Wix toolset v4 rc1 available so upgrade now
  2. Announcing heatwave and wix toolset v4 preview1

2021 1

  1. How the net foundation kerfuffle became a brouhaha

2017 1

  1. A wix toolset release to close out 2017

2016 1

  1. Windows 10 creators update first thoughts

2015 1

  1. Wix toolset v3101 released

2014 6

  1. Announcing heidi kim mensching
  2. Wix toolset v39 released
  3. Imperative statement blog posts
  4. Stackoverflow what does allusers0 mean
  5. Do not make fun of security issues
  6. Wix v39 release candidate 4

2013 2

  1. Wix v38 released
  2. Firegiant almost 6 months in

2012 5

  1. Robmen has left the building
  2. Wix v37 released
  3. You dont need to be cruel
  4. The wix toolset v40 begins
  5. Wix v37 release candidate available

2011 4

  1. Pentatonix make up videos for the last few weeks
  2. Announcing bradley reece mensching
  3. Wix v36 beta released
  4. Smashfest 2011 high speed camera vs everyday objects

2010 5

  1. Wix v35 now escrow production release imminent
  2. Is wix v35 ready what about v36
  3. Trick or treat wix v35 release candidate
  4. Difference between me on twitter me on facebook and me here
  5. The state of the wix toolset october 2010

2009 6

  1. The sandwiches arent free but the videos still are
  2. Definitely the end of the beginning
  3. Wix v35 3s visual studio 2010 beta 2
  4. First bug fixed in RobMensching.Blog. | RobMensching.com
  5. Now running RobMensching.Blog. | RobMensching.com
  6. Last post on Subtext. | RobMensching.com

2008 47

  1. All in and shipped out. Reflecting on the last year. | RobMensching.com
  2. WiX v3 toolset end of the Beta imminent. | RobMensching.com
  3. How to determine if you are installing on Windows Client vs. Windows Server. | RobMensching.com
  4. Anniversary at the end of the beginning. | RobMensching.com
  5. Geek humor: I am a duplicated bot. | RobMensching.com
  6. MSI SDK | RobMensching.com
  7. Promoting from within. | RobMensching.com
  8. Its more about context than content. | RobMensching.com
  9. WiX weekly builds back on track. | RobMensching.com
  10. What are .wixlibs and why would you use them? | RobMensching.com
  11. Correction: Google Chrome uninstalls... eventually. | RobMensching.com
  12. Google Chrome... updates without asking. | RobMensching.com
  13. Dissecting the Google Chrome setup. | RobMensching.com
  14. The Office family and the Windows division. | RobMensching.com
  15. When it changes it pours, again. | RobMensching.com
  16. WiX Working Group Wrap-up July 24th 2008 | RobMensching.com
  17. Slow posting... much going on in the personal life. | RobMensching.com
  18. WiX Working Group Wrap-up, delayed. | RobMensching.com
  19. My 9 year anniversary at Microsoft. | RobMensching.com
  20. Qik introduction. | RobMensching.com
  21. WiX v3.0.4206.0 bad, WiX v3.0.4207.0 better. | RobMensching.com
  22. Installation Architecture Reviews. | RobMensching.com
  23. Proposed adjustments the WiX v2 and WiX v3 roadmap. | RobMensching.com
  24. Call it WiX v2 "SP1". | RobMensching.com
  25. More red UI! | RobMensching.com
  26. Subscription required, fortunately they are free. | RobMensching.com
  27. Deployment Tools Foundation joins the WiX toolset. | RobMensching.com
  28. My apology to InstallAware Software Corporation. | RobMensching.com
  29. Weekend down time. | RobMensching.com
  30. Definitely do not feed the trolls. | RobMensching.com
  31. How to fix a frozen Zune and other interesting tips. | RobMensching.com
  32. How to escape the ampersand in WiX and MSI UI. | RobMensching.com
  33. Tend to the Trolls or just ignore them? | RobMensching.com
  34. WiX v3 releases back on track. | RobMensching.com
  35. Google App Engine delivered to Windows by WiX. | RobMensching.com
  36. 4th Open Source Anniversary for the WiX toolset. | RobMensching.com
  37. Quick WiX Status. | RobMensching.com
  38. But seriously. | RobMensching.com
  39. I quit. | RobMensching.com
  40. Running through Waterfalls. | RobMensching.com
  41. Obsolete skills | RobMensching.com
  42. Thirtysomething. | RobMensching.com
  43. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.. | RobMensching.com
  44. WiX toolset on SourceForge marked Production/Stable. | RobMensching.com
  45. Investigating Blogging Server Software. | RobMensching.com
  46. Sun buys Open Source, Microsoft and Google hire it. | RobMensching.com
  47. The much exaggerated death of the WiX toolset. | RobMensching.com

2007 54

  1. Fixing "No Services Found" for FM Radio in Windows Media Center on Vista. | RobMensching.com
  2. WiX v3 on the .NET Framework 2.0 eminent. | RobMensching.com
  3. Visual Studio ships the WiX toolset. | RobMensching.com
  4. WiX editors. | RobMensching.com
  5. The first day of the second year. | RobMensching.com
  6. Model View Presenter links | RobMensching.com
  7. WiX v3 on the road to .NET Framework 2.0. | RobMensching.com
  8. Make the impossible possible then talk about it. | RobMensching.com
  9. Zataoca: Custom actions should be data driven. | RobMensching.com
  10. Windows Installer 4.5 and the WiX toolset. | RobMensching.com
  11. Defining "fun" on a Sunday night alone. | RobMensching.com
  12. Zataoca: Custom actions are (generally) an admission of failure. | RobMensching.com
  13. SDD before TDD? | RobMensching.com
  14. WiX toolset in SlickEdit 2007 | RobMensching.com
  15. Zataoca: Classes of Custom Actions | RobMensching.com
  16. Zen and the Art of Custom Actions | RobMensching.com
  17. 3 Jobs | RobMensching.com
  18. WiX in adolescence? I hope so... | RobMensching.com
  19. Year 8. | RobMensching.com
  20. WiX Jobs | RobMensching.com
  21. "Smart cabbing" added to WiX toolset. | RobMensching.com
  22. WiX is "programming" declaratively not procedurally. | RobMensching.com
  23. How to create an uninstall shortcut (and pass all the ICE validation). | RobMensching.com
  24. It's like riding ghost. | RobMensching.com
  25. There is no "I" in "team" but there is "me". | RobMensching.com
  26. Managed Code CustomActions, no support on the way and here's why. | RobMensching.com
  27. WiX v3 Roadmap Draft | RobMensching.com
  28. WiX v2 entering escrow. | RobMensching.com
  29. Windows Installer XML (WiX) toolset 3 year anniversary! | RobMensching.com
  30. WiX online in Japan. | RobMensching.com
  31. WiX Tricks: I love that logo. | RobMensching.com
  32. WiX v2 status update. | RobMensching.com
  33. A WiX Night at the Movies | RobMensching.com
  34. RobMen's Recommendation: Do not advertise COM information in MSI. | RobMensching.com
  35. It's like Frogger! | RobMensching.com
  36. WiX at TechEd 2007? Survey says??? | RobMensching.com
  37. A kinder response to a response to "What is open source anyway?" | RobMensching.com
  38. Presenting WiX at the Designed for Operations Workshop | RobMensching.com
  39. Windows Installer identifiers must be stable. | RobMensching.com
  40. Windows Marketplace deployed... "automatedly". | RobMensching.com
  41. The WiX toolset isn't Open Source? Someone better call the OSI. | RobMensching.com
  42. Tired with two bugs. | RobMensching.com
  43. Explaining the value of packaging in California. | RobMensching.com
  44. The death of the comprehensive blog entry. | RobMensching.com
  45. three zero. | RobMensching.com
  46. Personal Update | RobMensching.com
  47. The WiX toolset makes MSDN Magazine. | RobMensching.com
  48. The Windows Vista 64-bit upgrade from Windows Marketplace requires a 64-bit operating system. | RobMensching.com
  49. I think I've read about this... | RobMensching.com
  50. Zune desktop theme: Black is back (downlevel). | RobMensching.com
  51. What do you get when you download Windows Vista from Marketplace? | RobMensching.com
  52. Windows Vista Countdown Clock | RobMensching.com
  53. Windows Vista and Office 2007 on Windows Marketplace | RobMensching.com
  54. Doing a small update or minor upgrade in MSI? Use MSIENFORCEUPGRADECOMPONENTRULES. | RobMensching.com

2006 10

  1. Crisis in Y2K7? WTF? | RobMensching.com
  2. Drive to a WiX v2 toolset final release. | RobMensching.com
  3. Alas, Babylon. | RobMensching.com
  4. Response to my WiXAware Introduction. | RobMensching.com
  5. Life without a computer. | RobMensching.com
  6. Introduction to RobMensching.com/blog | RobMensching.com
  7. Still getting settled in... | RobMensching.com
  8. My introduction to WiXAware, an editor for the WiX toolset. | RobMensching.com
  9. It all begins in November... | RobMensching.com
  10. Joining Marketplace. | RobMensching.com

2005 2

  1. How the WiX toolset got its name. | RobMensching.com
  2. In defense of Windows Vista's Restart Manager. | RobMensching.com

2004 9

  1. My philsophical musings about building setup for software. | RobMensching.com
  2. Windows Installer XML (WiX) toolset has released as Open Source on SourceForge.net | RobMensching.com
  3. Open Source Business Conference and green light means go. | RobMensching.com
  4. Quick update on the "toolset" as per two requests. | RobMensching.com
  5. Back on the crystal meth... and oh so happy. | RobMensching.com
  6. Inside the MSI file format, again. | RobMensching.com
  7. "expensive install tools" vs. "less expensive install tools" | RobMensching.com
  8. Breaking the vow of silence... | RobMensching.com
  9. Gibson speaks... I relate. | RobMensching.com

2003 14

  1. On moving into the future... | RobMensching.com
  2. Inside the MSI file format. | RobMensching.com
  3. 2nd cousins | RobMensching.com
  4. Component Rules 101 | RobMensching.com
  5. The story of Orca | RobMensching.com
  6. jsirois, in the house! | RobMensching.com
  7. Rob's Two Axioms of Setup… | RobMensching.com
  8. Windows Installer Components Introduction. | RobMensching.com
  9. Wednesday WordBlogX and Swing Dancing Update | RobMensching.com
  10. pattern recognition | RobMensching.com
  11. Where in the world is Rob? | RobMensching.com
  12. Setup is... | RobMensching.com
  13. Swing, baby, swing… | RobMensching.com
  14. robmen now entering blogspace. | RobMensching.com

Undated 160

  1. Wix toolset supports msi 50
  2. Wix toolset is out of beta not in it
  3. Wix toolset bug count after january 29th 2009
  4. Release candidate defined
  5. Wix toolset bug count after february 5th 2009
  6. Wix v35 status or the lack thereof
  7. Distributing culture is hard
  8. Wix toolset bug count after february 12th 2009
  9. Turtles all the way down
  10. Wix toolset bug count after february 19th 2009
  11. Well there goes my five nines
  12. Wix toolset bug count after february 26th 2009
  13. More on haacks troubleshooting windows msi installers
  14. Wix toolset bug count after march 6th 2009
  15. Wix toolset bug count after march 12th 2009
  16. Wix toolset bug count after march 26th 2009
  17. Visual studio will not ship the wix toolset contributes only
  18. Wix toolset bug count after april 2nd 2009
  19. Open source wix toolset turns 5
  20. Wix toolset bug count after april 9th 2009
  21. Wix toolset bug count after april 16th 2009
  22. Wix v3x schedule rtm and beyond
  23. Wix toolset bug count after april 23rd 2009
  24. Wix toolset bug count after april 30th 2009
  25. Wix toolset bug count after may 7th 2009
  26. Wix toolset bug count after may 14th 2009
  27. Wix toolset bug count after may 21st 2009
  28. You can follow the wix toolset on twitter
  29. Wix toolset bug count after may 28th 2009
  30. Wix toolset bug count after june 19th 2009
  31. Celebrating 10 years at microsoft
  32. Wix v30 released
  33. Tips on how to upgrade from wix v2 to wix v3
  34. Lets talk about burn
  35. Sounders fc practice in our yard
  36. Open source at microsoft in 2009
  37. Burn packages payloads and containers
  38. 64bit msi packages require windows installer 20
  39. Robmenschingcom llc open for business
  40. How to install zune software on windows 2008 r2
  41. Fixing unit tests in vs2008 sp1 with the wix toolset
  42. Quantity to improve quality
  43. Productivity is dependent on what you value
  44. Snack apps
  45. Burn moves to a new foundation
  46. Glimpses of life with wix v40
  47. Stackoverflow what does namesourcedir refer to
  48. Kid beyonds amplivate blows my mind
  49. Wix v35 now supports visual studio 2010 rc
  50. Birthday 0x21 at the beginning of the middle
  51. Unplugging for two weeks
  52. Change of plans for wix v35
  53. The wix toolsets remember property pattern
  54. Wix toolset source and releases move to codeplex
  55. Wix v35 ui library supports 30 languages
  56. Wix mercurial tortoisehg and the command line
  57. The first thing i do with an msi log
  58. Frustrated
  59. Burn baby burn
  60. Burn in the corporate environment
  61. Arpinstalllocation and how to set it with the wix toolset
  62. Wix v35 final build
  63. Wix v35 released
  64. Delay uploading wix v36 to sfnet
  65. That is why the call it the present
  66. A case study for wixlibs
  67. State of the wix toolset july 2011
  68. Setup in windows 8 and visual studio
  69. Appx has no custom actions
  70. The all new robmenschingcom
  71. The wixtoolsetorg online
  72. Pondering a manifesto
  73. Being traded
  74. Happy 35th new year
  75. Wix toolset builds moving to mondays
  76. My interview on net rocks
  77. Wix v36 release candidate zero available
  78. Wix toolset support for software id tagging isoiec 19770 2
  79. Wix v36 release candidate available
  80. B is for bundle and thats good enough for me
  81. Thirteen years at microsoft
  82. Wix toolset v36 nears completion
  83. Outercurve foundation and wix toolset together at last
  84. Forget flying i want an electric car
  85. Pussy riot speaks
  86. The wix toolset license
  87. Enter wix v37 toolset
  88. Wix v36 released
  89. Promotion the end of title games
  90. This is how you open a bottle of champagne
  91. The new adventure
  92. Oh halo i remember thee fondly
  93. Next generation of core wix toolset developers
  94. Oslo next week
  95. Thirty six
  96. The startup diaries
  97. The startup diaries help desk software
  98. The startup diaries naming the company
  99. Testing tinypost
  100. Outercurves first oss conference
  101. The startup diaries stealth mode sucks
  102. Introducing firegiant dedicated support for the wix toolset
  103. Plus plus thirty six
  104. Stackoverflow removal of advertised product information
  105. Microsoft 2014 mvp award
  106. Evolution of free and open source at microsoft
  107. The day after the attack
  108. Information diet consume less produce more
  109. Six weeks of sickness
  110. The goal almost as i saw it
  111. A new approach to comments
  112. Firegiant turns one
  113. Wix v39 release candidate
  114. Wix v39 release candidate 2
  115. The startup diaries blogging is hard
  116. Services reference
  117. Wix v39 release candidate 3
  118. Linkedin etiquette
  119. Double look up one long take
  120. Wix toolset v39 r2 released
  121. Attention scarcity
  122. Thirty six plus equals two
  123. Bob arnson joins firegiant
  124. Reflecting on culture defined
  125. Firegiant web site finds its voice
  126. Firegiant now hosts the wix tutorial
  127. Wix v310 release candidate
  128. How bing funds my music habit
  129. Wix v310 release candidate 2
  130. Wix toolset v310 released
  131. I live here
  132. Thirty nine
  133. Black hole for referrer spam
  134. Wix toolset has a new committer
  135. My spotify experiment is over
  136. Wix toolset joins the net foundation
  137. Wix v3103 release candidate
  138. Wix toolset v3103 released
  139. Lets code wix bad filenames
  140. Lets code wix tables xml and a typo
  141. Lets code wix rooting payloads and fixing the system in burn
  142. The big four oh
  143. Wix v311 release candidate
  144. Wix v311 release candidate 2
  145. Wix toolset v311 released
  146. Lets code wix v314
  147. Lets code gitversioning native code support
  148. Lets code wix on to netfx 45
  149. Forty uno
  150. Msix conjectures
  151. So excited preordered the trip home
  152. Forty two
  153. I am forty three
  154. The decline of reciprocal licenses through corporate leadership
  155. Forty four and a year of pandemic
  156. Wix toolset v4 preview0
  157. An amateurs guide to recording technology for kids soccer
  158. Forty five more normal
  159. Forty six in phoenix
  160. Wix toolset v4 and heatwave v1 generally available