Catalyst Deployer

Catalyst: Lean, powerful PowerShell deployment template with native Windows GUI, colored logging, and enterprise-ready Intune/SCCM integration.

A production-ready PowerShell installer/uninstaller framework for enterprise deployments. Catalyst delivers professional-grade functionality in ~280 lines with dark-themed native Windows Forms GUI, comprehensive logging, and seamless MDM platform support.

🌟 Features

• Compact Design - Professional functionality in ~280 lines
• Dark-Themed GUI - Native Windows Forms with Azure blue accents and modern styling
• Dual Mode - Interactive GUI and silent (automated) deployment modes
• Colored Logging - Real-time log display with severity levels (Info, Warning, Error, Success)
• Multiple Uninstall Methods - GUID, MSI, Program Name, or Custom uninstall support
• MDM Ready - Optimized for Microsoft Intune, SCCM, and modern deployment platforms
• Administrator Enforcement - Requires elevation with automatic checks
• Rich Error Handling - User-friendly error messages with detailed logging
• Universal Compatibility - Works with any EXE, MSI, or custom installer

📋 Requirements

• PowerShell: 5.0 or higher
• OS: Windows 7/8/10/11 (Server editions supported)
• Permissions: Administrator rights required
• Framework: .NET Framework 4.5+ (for Windows Forms)

🚀 Quick Start

Basic Installation

.\install.ps1

Silent Installation

.\install.ps1 -Silent

Uninstall

.\install.ps1 -Uninstall

Scheduled Deployment

.\install.ps1 -Schedule

🔧 Configuration

All settings are managed through the $Config hashtable at the top of install.ps1:

$Config = @{
    AppName             = "Your Application Name"
    AppVersion          = "1.0.0"
    AppVendor           = "Your Company"
    SetupFileName       = "setup.exe"
    SetupParameters     = "/s /norestart"
    UninstallMethod     = "GUID"
    UninstallGUID       = "{GUID-HERE}"
    RequiresReboot      = $false
    EnableGUI           = $true
    AlwaysOnTop         = $true
}

Key Configuration Options

Option	Type	Description
AppName	String	Application display name
SetupFileName	String	Installer executable filename
SetupParameters	String	Command line arguments for setup
EnableDriverInstallation	Boolean	Enable/disable driver installation
UninstallMethod	String	Uninstall method: GUID, MSI, ProgramName, Custom
RequiresReboot	Boolean	Prompt for reboot after installation
AlwaysOnTop	Boolean	Keep window on top

📝 Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
-Silent	Switch	Run without GUI (automated mode)
-NoInteractive	Switch	Disable all user interactions
-Uninstall	Switch	Run uninstallation instead of installation
-Schedule	Switch	Schedule installation for later
-Quick	Switch	Fast mode with minimal UI updates
-DisableCloseButton	Switch	Hide close button on main window
-LogPath	String	Custom log file path

📂 File Structure

catalyst-deployer/
├── install.ps1                 # Main template script
├── README.md                   # This file
├── LICENSE                     # MIT License
├── .gitignore                  # Git ignore rules
├── CONTRIBUTING.md             # Contribution guidelines
├── docs/
│   ├── CONFIGURATION.md        # Detailed configuration guide
│   ├── PARAMETERS.md           # Parameter reference
│   ├── CUSTOMIZATION.md        # Customization guide
│   ├── EXAMPLES.md             # Real-world examples
│   └── TROUBLESHOOTING.md      # Common issues and solutions
└── examples/
    └── sample-installer/       # Example implementation
        ├── install.ps1
        ├── setup.exe
        ├── img/
        │   ├── icon.ico
        │   ├── logo.png
        │   └── background.png
        └── README.md

🎨 Customization

Basic Customization

1. Update the $Config hashtable with your application details
2. Place your installer files in the script directory
3. Add custom icon and background images in img/ folder
4. Run and test the installer

Advanced Customization

See CUSTOMIZATION.md for:

• Custom GUI styling
• Advanced logging configuration
• Custom uninstall procedures
• Integration with external tools

📊 Logging

Logs are stored in C:\ProgramData\Logs\ by default:

• Installation Log: Installation.log
• Uninstallation Log: Uninstallation.log

Log format:

2026-04-08 14:30:45: [Info] Script started. Current directory: C:\path\to\script
2026-04-08 14:30:46: [Info] Copied setup.exe to C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp
2026-04-08 14:30:50: [Success] Installation completed successfully

🔒 Security Considerations

• Script requires administrator rights
• Sensitive credentials should be stored in environment variables, not hardcoded
• Logs are stored in protected system directories
• Always validate setup file integrity before deployment
• Review the script before deployment in production

🌐 MDM & Enterprise Deployment

Catalyst Deployer is designed for seamless integration with modern enterprise deployment platforms.

Microsoft Intune

Step 1: Prepare Package

$params = @{
    FilePath = "C:\path\to\catalyst-deployer"
    Filter = "*"
    Recurse = $true
}
Get-ChildItem @params

Step 2: Create Win32 App in Intune

1. Go to Intune Portal → Apps → Windows
2. Create new Win32 app
3. Select your packaged installer
4. Set install command: powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install.ps1 -Silent
5. Configure detection rules based on GUID/Registry

Step 3: Deploy to Devices

Assign to device/user groups and monitor deployment status in Intune console.

Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (SCCM)

# Command line for SCCM packages:
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install.ps1 -Silent

# For uninstallation:
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install.ps1 -Uninstall -Silent

Configuration:

• Source files path: Same directory as install.ps1
• Programs: Set execution policy bypass
• Detection method: Registry key or file presence
• Return codes: 0 (success), non-zero (failure)

Group Policy & Software Distribution

# Group Policy logon/startup script example:
$scriptPath = "\\domain\shares\software\app\install.ps1"
& $scriptPath -Silent -NoInteractive

Additional Deployment Methods

• Windows Package Manager - Compatible with WinGet
• PowerShell Remoting - Remote deployment support
• Custom Scripts - Easy integration with automation frameworks
• Batch Operations - Multi-device parallel deployment

📖 Examples

Example 1: Simple Installer

$Config = @{
    AppName = "Notepad++"
    AppVersion = "8.5.0"
    SetupFileName = "npp.8.5.0.Installer.exe"
    SetupParameters = "/S"
    UninstallGUID = "{YOUR_GUID_HERE}"
}

Example 2: Driver Installation

$Config = @{
    AppName = "Graphics Driver"
    EnableDriverInstallation = $true
    DriverFileName = "graphics_driver.inf"
    SetupFileName = "setup.exe"
    RequiresReboot = $true
}

Example 3: MSI-based Uninstall

$Config = @{
    UninstallMethod = "MSI"
    UninstallMSIFile = "C:\ProgramFiles\App\setup.msi"
}

See EXAMPLES.md for more detailed examples.

🐛 Troubleshooting

Issue: GUI doesn't appear

Solution: Check if -Silent flag is enabled. Use $Config.EnableGUI = $true

Issue: Setup file not found

Solution: Ensure SetupFileName matches the actual file and is in the same directory as the script

Issue: Permission denied

Solution: Run PowerShell as Administrator or enable UAC elevation

For more troubleshooting steps, see TROUBLESHOOTING.md

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines on:

• Code style
• Testing procedures
• Pull request process
• Issue reporting

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

👤 Author

Lorenzo Scozzafava
GitHub: @scozzadroid-cpu

🔗 Resources

• PowerShell Documentation
• Windows Forms Guide
• Intune Win32 Apps
• Semantic Versioning

📋 Roadmap

• Add support for PowerShell 7+ (cross-platform)
• Enhanced progress tracking for large installations
• Built-in rollback functionality
• Automatic driver detection
• Integration with Windows Package Manager

⭐ Show Your Support

If Catalyst Deployer helps you, please consider:

• Starring the repository
• Sharing with your team
• Contributing improvements
• Reporting issues

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Made with ❤️ for enterprise deployments