Project · Analysis tool for software packaging
install-parser
Answers two packaging questions without ever starting the installer: which parameters does it accept – and which custom actions does it run, with which privileges?
Why
Before software is rolled out in a company, you need to know how to install it silently and what it does along the way. The usual approach is to try the installer in a VM and hunt for vendor documentation. install-parser reads the answers straight from the file.
How
The tool reads the OLE tables of MSI files, unpacks embedded containers from WiX Burn and InstallShield and evaluates Inno Setup scripts. It runs entirely on Linux, with no msiexec or Windows API, and writes reports as text or JSON.
A golden test compares every table of the test files cell by cell against msitools – around 55,000 values. It found two real bugs, which it now keeps out for good.
Tech stack
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Language | Python |
| Formats | MSI (OLE), WiX Burn, InstallShield, Inno Setup |
| Helpers | 7z, innoextract, openssl |
| Output | text report, JSON |
| Tests | pytest, golden test against msitools |
Skills
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