Prompted by a presentation at EKON, that was based on some of the Vista SDK tools, I decided to install it on my computer. I though this would have been simple, considering that the Vista SDK helps building applications for Vista and working with the OS. So I was in for a surprise. the user interface usability of this install will make you rethink any criticism on Delphi own installation...

First, the Vista SDK setup want to install to your system a newer version of .NET... even if it is older than what you have on your computer. As you can see below, the setup wants to install version 5238 over version 5239. Seems it cannot compare the two numbers. Also, you need to read the instructions twice in full to understand them and how to skip this install:

The first time I went ahead with the install, it downloaded too many web parts (the setup program itself is small), so I decided to stop the operation. After asking for confirmation, the program displayed a "threatening" message on a single very long line. This is a topmost windows (remains in front of any other program) stuck in the center of the screen (if you move it away, it returns there)... so you cannot use your computer for "several minutes". I wonder it this has anything to do with partial data in Microsoft Installer...

The second time I tried, it complained a little about the suspended operation (although I did wait the several minutes I probably lost my Internet connection during the process), but did the full install (well, after I skipped the .NET update once more). At the end, as the executable and the "setup" word in its name, I was prompted with the following:

Which makes me wonder... is the Vista SDK not compatible with Vista? Why it is from an unknown publisher? And an unknown program?

Of course the program was installed correctly, and certainly it works also on XP as developer who started supporting Vista early need a more stable operating system... but an operating system that has problems recognizing its own official Software Development Kit and the company who wrote it... looks to be in some big trouble!