msix-package-generator

name	msix-package-generator
description	Generate MSIX packaging configuration with manifest, assets, and signing for Windows applications
allowed-tools	Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep
tags	["windows","msix","packaging","uwp","distribution"]
graph	{"domains":["domain:software-engineering"],"specializations":["specialization:desktop-development"],"skillAreas":["skill-area:cross-platform-desktop","skill-area:deployment-infrastructure-management"],"roles":["role:desktop-developer","role:fullstack-engineer"],"workflows":["workflow:feature-development","workflow:release-management"]}

msix-package-generator

Generate MSIX packaging configuration for Windows applications with proper manifest, assets, signing configuration, and Store submission preparation. This skill handles the complete MSIX packaging workflow.

Capabilities

• Generate Package.appxmanifest
• Create required visual assets (icons, tiles)
• Configure app capabilities and declarations
• Set up code signing for MSIX
• Configure auto-update settings
• Prepare for Microsoft Store submission
• Generate CI/CD packaging scripts
• Configure sideload deployment

Input Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "projectPath": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Path to the project"
    },
    "appInfo": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "name": { "type": "string" },
        "displayName": { "type": "string" },
        "publisher": { "type": "string" },
        "publisherDisplayName": { "type": "string" },
        "version": { "type": "string" },
        "description": { "type": "string" }
      },
      "required": ["name", "displayName", "publisher", "version"]
    },
    "capabilities": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "enum": ["internetClient", "privateNetworkClientServer", "documentsLibrary", "musicLibrary", "picturesLibrary", "webcam", "microphone", "location", "removableStorage", "appointments", "contacts"]
      }
    },
    "executables": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "target": { "type": "string" },
          "id": { "type": "string" },
          "subsystem": { "enum": ["windows", "console"] }
        }
      }
    },
    "distribution": {
      "enum": ["store", "sideload", "both"],
      "default": "sideload"
    }
  },
  "required": ["projectPath", "appInfo"]
}

Output Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "success": { "type": "boolean" },
    "files": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "path": { "type": "string" },
          "type": { "enum": ["manifest", "assets", "priconfig", "signing"] }
        }
      }
    
     
       
       
            
            
      
    
  
   

Package.appxmanifest

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/foundation/windows10"
         xmlns:uap="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/uap/windows10"
         xmlns:uap3="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/uap/windows10/3"
         xmlns:desktop="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/desktop/windows10"
         xmlns:rescap="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/foundation/windows10/restrictedcapabilities"
         IgnorableNamespaces="uap uap3 desktop rescap">

  <Identity Name="MyCompany.MyApp"
            Publisher="CN=My Company, O=My Company, L=City, S=State, C=US"
            Version="1.0.0.0"
            ProcessorArchitecture="x64"/>

  <Properties>
    <DisplayName>My Application</DisplayName>
    <PublisherDisplayName>My Company</PublisherDisplayName>
    <Logo>Assets\StoreLogo.png</Logo>
    <Description>A wonderful application</Description>
  </Properties>

  <Dependencies>
    < =
                        =
                        =/>
  

  
    
  

  
    

      

        
          
            
            
            
          
        

        

      

      
      
        
          
            
              .myapp
            
          
        

        
        
          
            My App Protocol
          
        

        
        
          
        
      

    
  

  
    
    
  

Visual Assets

Assets/
├── AppIcon.ico              # Traditional icon
├── StoreLogo.png            # 50x50
├── Square44x44Logo.png      # 44x44 (with .targetsize-* variants)
├── Square44x44Logo.targetsize-16.png
├── Square44x44Logo.targetsize-24.png
├── Square44x44Logo.targetsize-32.png
├── Square44x44Logo.targetsize-48.png
├── Square44x44Logo.targetsize-256.png
├── Square150x150Logo.png    # 150x150
├── Square310x310Logo.png    # 310x310
├── Wide310x150Logo.png      # 310x150
├── SmallTile.png            # 71x71
├── SplashScreen.png         # 620x300
└── BadgeLogo.png            # 24x24

priconfig.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources targetOsVersion="10.0.0" majorVersion="1">
  <packaging>
    <autoResourcePackage qualifier="Language"/>
    <autoResourcePackage qualifier="Scale"/>
  </packaging>
  <index root="\" startIndexAt="\">
    <default>
      <qualifier name="Language" value="en-US"/>
      <qualifier name="Scale" value="100"/>
    </default>
    <indexer-config type="folder" foldernameAsQualifier="true" filenameAsQualifier="true"/>
    <indexer-config type="resw" convertDotsToSlashes="true" initialPath=""/>
    < = =/>
    
  

Build Commands

# Build MSIX package
msbuild MyApp.wapproj /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64 /p:AppxBundle=Always

# Create package with makeappx
makeappx pack /d output\ /p MyApp.msix

# Sign package
signtool sign /fd SHA256 /a /f certificate.pfx /p password MyApp.msix

# Create self-signed certificate for testing
$cert = New-SelfSignedCertificate -Type Custom -Subject "CN=MyCompany" `
    -KeyUsage DigitalSignature -FriendlyName "MyApp Test Cert" `
    -CertStoreLocation "Cert:\CurrentUser\My"
Export-PfxCertificate -cert $cert -FilePath test.pfx -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString -String "password" -Force -AsPlainText)

.csproj Configuration

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
    <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>

    <!-- MSIX Packaging -->
    <EnableMsixTooling>true</EnableMsixTooling>
    <RuntimeIdentifiers>win-x64;win-arm64</RuntimeIdentifiers>
    <PublishProfile>MSIX</PublishProfile>

    <!-- Package identity -->
    <ApplicationId>MyCompany.MyApp</ApplicationId>
    <ApplicationDisplayVersion>1.0.0</ApplicationDisplayVersion>
    <ApplicationVersion>1</ApplicationVersion>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <ItemGroup>
    <Content Include="Assets\**" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest"/>
  </ItemGroup>

</>

GitHub Actions CI

name: Build MSIX

on: [push]

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: windows-latest

    steps:
    - uses: actions/checkout@v4

    - name: Setup .NET
      uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
      with:
        dotnet-version: '8.0.x'

    - name: Decode certificate
      run: |
        $bytes = [Convert]::FromBase64String("${{ secrets.SIGNING_CERTIFICATE }}")
        [IO.File]::WriteAllBytes("cert.pfx", $bytes)

    - name: Build MSIX
      run: |
        dotnet publish -c Release -p:PublishProfile=MSIX
        signtool sign /fd SHA256 /f cert.pfx /p "${{ secrets.CERT_PASSWORD }}" MyApp.msix

    - name: Upload artifact
      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
      with:
        name: msix-package
        path: '**/*.msix'

Best Practices

1. Use proper publisher identity: Match your certificate
2. Include all required assets: All sizes for all display scales
3. Test on multiple Windows versions: MinVersion matters
4. Sign with trusted certificate: For production distribution
5. Configure capabilities minimally: Request only what you need
6. Test sideload deployment: Before Store submission

Related Skills

• windows-authenticode-signer - Code signing
• wpf-mvvm-scaffold - Application setup
• desktop-build-pipeline process - CI/CD

Related Agents

• windows-platform-expert - Windows expertise
• release-manager - Release workflow