Bring Back the Visual Studio Installation Customization Options
We'd like to have all of the options back to customize Visual Studio. We'd probably like to have more granular installation customization, but at the very least, let us customize the installation.
Jason Gaylord
shared this idea
We’ve added customization back in to the installation, so I’m going to close this item out.
thanks,
Doug Turnure – Visual Studio PM
50 comments
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Oather
commented
Agreed, a minimal c++ install without all the .net support would likely speed up the IDE as well (eg the debug exceptions dialog).
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James D. Schwarzmeier
commented
Not only should the install be customizable, but it seriously needs to consolidate itself. I think my install put something like 38 different entries in add/remove programs. Are all of these really neccesary? It seems like a lot of the entries are really subcomponents or individual features...can cause quite the mess when trying to uninstall stuff.
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Taavi Koosaar
commented
I think at the bare minimum, we need to be able to choose what components to install to save space on SSD's. I almost never install VB.NET or c++ (btw this is HUGE), since i do not develop using them. I think all the different types of developments need to be selectable to minimize the installation and bloat on Visual Studio. Components should be addable later if the requirement rises,
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Eddie Groves
commented
Please bring back the install options, my poor SSD cannot handle all of the bloat!
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Todd Smith
commented
Myself and all of the guys on my team really want to have at a minimum, the options of VS 10. Sure, disk space is fairly cheap, but the point for us is this: not taking all afternoon to install, and taking it easy on the SSD's we have.
It always gets me when MS says they took something away because they felt not many used it (such a positive spin on it). Why not just leave it??? Is it really that much effort to giving customers a decent installer??
I've also left a comment on the suggestion for adding even more customization than VS 10 had....I mean the list of stuff in the Control Panel/Programs list is bewildering.
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@jurmerian - I know that I always check to provide feedback. But I feel that I'm a power user and generally install more than most.
@Pure Krome - Install the Express versions for the ultra-light feeling. That's not the intent of this item either.
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ntspec
commented
I'm assuming this was just for the beta.
Let us know when customization is ready,
I'll look at it again then.M. Henley
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leniel
commented
It's totally a waste of space having all that C++ stuff, SQL Server, etc that I really won't use. I just install C# and WebDev tools. Therefore, the need for customization is apparent. If I ever need it I'd go to the installation setup again and select it at a later time...
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André Ziegler
commented
I ALWAYS customize Setup for ALL products. If I can't customize VS11 I'll never use it. I don't install 10GB if I only need some functions.
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Jake
commented
I have never once done a complete install and I have never once checked the 'send feedback to MS' option. I only ever install C# and web dev tools. I don't want to install anything else. It seems silly to base all your decisions on a checkbox that most people don't use. It reminds me of the IE9 decision to place the tabs next to the address bar because "most" people don't have more than 3 tabs open.
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Jeremy Hutchinson
commented
Things that installed that I do use (and if I start to use I expect to have to update my install): C++, F# and LightSwitch.
I'm sure there are other options I chose not to install in VS2010. Disk is cheap and I have plenty of space for VS2008, VS2010 and VS11 on my little SSD, but I did have to go on a cleanup mission before I could start the install...
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Scott Salyer
commented
I'm in this boat. When I installed the beta on my primary SSD (where disk space is costly), it was 9.7GB of which a large portion was likely C++ which isn't something I even use. I don't want to waste XGB of SSD space on something I'll never use.
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DavidChristiansen commented
What @Pure.Krome said +2
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Pure Krome
commented
Please allow us to customize the installation. I (and all my collegues) must be part of the 10%. Out of those 90% 'install-all' .. how much of the features are they using? 10%?
A -standard- Dev10 install == turn -all- off. Tick C# on. tick Web Dev on. Now install.
That's right! With NoSql... we're not using Sql Server any more. And all the other fluff .. is just that. fluff. Oh! Hello GitHub :) Hello NuGet.
Having a light and minimal VS == balltastic awesomesauce.
So please please please reconsider customization of the install! There's so much bloat that most of us don't use.
Take Dev11 from kewl to Unicorn-Fantasic!
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Henri Toivonen commented
i think the reason for why many chose not to customize their installation with vs2010 is because you didnt save much diskspace by disabling components. you still got all the sql server stuff and silverlight sdks and mvc2, etc etc. what is needed is better customization not taking it away all together!
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Anthony Swift
commented
This is a vital feature for the install. As others have stated, I also don't want my HDD filled with so many things I will never use, Visual Basic, C++ and SQL Server Express spring to mind. With such a large footprint, I'm frankly suprised Microsoft though they would get away with cutting this feature.
I always customise the install but as jurmerian commented, I uncheck the 'send feedback' box.
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jurmerian
commented
@John Montgomery. Maybe the people who customize, don´t check the "send feedback to Microsoft" box.
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@Alan - With VS 11, you will notice that the installer doesn't leave much behind. They did solve the problem, but at the same time, that solution now installs everything. I know its not an easy problem to solve which is why we have this issue in the first place.
All - VS 11 beta takes up approximately 9.2 GB on the disk.
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Lucas
commented
I feel like it's currently the worst of both worlds. On one hand I'm also a SSD user so being forced to install GBs of "SQL Server What-Even-Is-This-Stuff-And-Why-Do-I-Need-It 2011 SP5" is kind of painful, but I can see the logic of making the installer streamlined.
Unfortunately a single install spews out like 20+ "Programs and Features" entries that you need to uninstall one-by-one. Why break it up to this level of insane granularity if there is no customization?
Also, could one of the reasons nobody customized the installer in Dev10 be that we are all trained to ignore that option? :) It's kind of Visual Studio tradition that previous installers erroneously installed a whole bunch of stuff regardless of you selected there so maybe people stopped bothering.
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Roman
commented
Yes, get back !
