ClickOnce Aims to Ease Installation

ClickOnce, a new application installation feature in the next release of the .NET Framework, lets users invoke and install thick-client .NET applications by clicking on a link in a browser. ClickOnce improves on a similar feature in the current release of the .NET Framework, but it lacks some important features provided by the Windows Installer. It also muddies the waters for IT planners by introducing yet another application installation technology at a time when the rest of Microsoft is finally standardizing on the Windows Installer for application installation and patching.

Installation Barrier to Thick Clients

Microsoft continues to promote “thick-client” application architectures, which put application code on user PCs and mobile devices, over “thin-client” architectures, which rely on a generic client (typically a browser). The company contends that thick clients provide better user interfaces, superior integration with local applications, and better support for working offline.