InstallAnywhere Standard Edition is a handy application for the developers who need to package their software product in order to distribute it to the end user. It allows you to provide your customers with a simple way to install a program on their machine.

Most developers and software publishers know that the installation package plays an important role in the success of a software. Since people tend to create a first impression very quickly, it is likely that a computer program is labeled as “easy to use” based on the installation and the first 5 minutes of usage.

This tool aims to help you create an efficient installation package by collecting the information about the required components and libraries. You can also customize the graphical interface and the information provided to the end user in the installer.

When you start the program for the first time it prompts you to create a new project by using a wizard which guides you through the basic customization settings. Here you can edit the window name, the folder hierarchy and the installer icon.

It also lets you select the classes that are required by your project and the platforms targeted for the software distribution. The program can easily create packages compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris, Unix and other operating systems.

The wizard is designed to help the beginners or the developers who need to create an installer without too much trouble. However, you can always switch to the Advanced Designer that presents you with the full range of customization features such as the installation steps or the post-installation actions.

Even if the advanced interface is easy to use and provides quick access to the customization features, this tool is clearly designed for the developers and requires previous experience since the included documentation is rather thin.

If you need to find a way to distribute your software to multiple platforms, InstallAnywhere is a good alternative that provides most of the customization features.