Microsoft recently released the RC version of its now famous Web Platform Installer.  The Web Platform Installer is a compilation of powerful frameworks, servers, tools, database and popular open source web applications that can be installed from a single package and prepare your Windows machine to become a powerhouse in web development.

You can download the Web Platform Installer directly here or visit its download page for more information.

Now you don't have to visit different web pages to download those samples and starter kits you want.  This download manager will take care of this for you.

It first greets you as you run it with a What's New section where you'll be introduced to the latest updates and additions to the platform so you don't have to worry about keeping up to date with all the releases and updates that are coming out. 

In the Web Platform section you can install or customize you Web Server, Frameworks and Runtimes, Database and Development Tools installations.

For example, if you click Customize on the Web Server option you will see the Features available for download and those already installed.  In the screenshot below we can see the URL Rewrite Module for IIS has not been installed yet.

Even PHP is available in the Frameworks and Runtimes section.  They're now friends as you can see from this video.

In the Web Applications section you will be treated to some of the most popular web apps today.  Even the Blog Engine which I run is there .  They have been also categorized for easy access in another menu inside this section.

Let's now take a look at the What's New section screen from another machine running Windows XP with .NET 3.5 SP1, SQL Server 2005 Express and Visual Web Developer Express below.  Notice how the ASP.NET MVC 1.0 framework is offered along with Silverlight 3, SQL Server 2008 Express with SP1 and PHP in the Web Platform Extensions.

Give the Web Platform Installer a try and pat yourself on the back.  Good Job!

Happy programming