MakeDDF

MakeDDF is a command-line application that can help you build DDF-formatted files for the makecab.exe tool. It is specifically designed for Sharepoint developers who want to create WSP files.

No installation required

There is no setup kit involved, which makes MakeDDF portable. You can save its executable file in any place on the hard drive and easily call its process from a Command Prompt dialog, as well as save the tool to a pen drive or similar removable storage unit, in order to launch it on any PC with minimum effort and no previous installers.
Worth mentioning is that, unlike most programs wrapped up in installers, MakeDDF does not modify Windows registry settings or create extra files on the disk without your consent, thus leaving it clean after removal.

Straightforward commands

Executing the utility without adding any parameters browses the current directory and creates a DDF file by borrowing the folder's name. As far as supported commands go, it is possible to point out a path whose contents you want to include in the new file (the subfolders will be taken into account as well), specify the value of the CabinetNameTemplate item and name of DDF file, as well as store file names with their full path.

Evaluation and conclusion

We have not encountered any stability issues throughout our evaluation, since MakeDDF did not hang, crash or pop up error messages. It carries out tasks rapidly while using low CPU and RAM, so it does not hamper system performance. All in all, MakeDDF gets the job done and should come in handy to users preferring console applications over graphical interfaces.