Hello Zombie
Blog
Well, this was fun. I’ve been sitting on the hellozombie.com domain for years. Over the course of a couple short sessions across two days,…
Two decades of projects and writing, newest first. Scroll to travel back.
2026
Craft Beer Artwork Directory
Sites
It started as an Instagram account where I posted panoramic photos of craft beer can art, using the approach shown and described here. Even…
2025
Exercise Streaks
Blog
Exercise Streaks is a mobile app I built because I wanted it and could not find one that worked the way I wanted. My…
AddRemovePrograms.com
Sites
AddRemovePrograms is my resource for enterprise IT pros who package and manage Windows applications. The idea is simple: every application gets its own page…
2024
AI-Driven Application Management
Speaking
I’ve been saying for some time that we’ll soon leverage GenAI for application management. That day is arriving earlier than many may have expected.…
The Impact of Suspended or Compromised Accounts
Blog
I’ve had a couple of experiences lately that have prompted me to consolidate them into something that might help others: I had a compromised…
AppDetails GPT
Products · Sites
I published a dedicated GPT that can be used to get extensive packaging and deployment related details for third party applications. I call it…
Charlotte Brewery Trading Cards
Products
What started as a concept for an NFT project evolved from virtual to physical over the last two years. While Craft Beer Spots has…
2023
Electronic Santa
Music
Seldom do I even hear commercials these days, but I recall really enjoying Electronic Santa from this 2010 Target commercial. I think every year…
Orca: From IT Pro’s Favorite MSI Editor to Pioneering Small Language Models
Tech
Remember Orca, the trusty MSI table editor that was the go-to tool for any self-respecting IT Professional? Well, Microsoft is stirring the nostalgia pot…
Unleashing the Power of Large Language Models in Application Management
Speaking
At the App Manage Event held in October of 2023 in Utrecht, Netherlands, I had the opportunity to deliver a thought leadership session and…
Producing AI Cover Songs
Music · Tech
It is scary-easy to create AI covers of songs that sound surprisingly good now. I was blown away when I stumbled across songs sung…
MSIX Accelerators
Writing
This is one of those cases where I saw a problem, envisioned a solution, but could never make the time to execute upon it.…
ChatGPT and Cybersecurity, Phishing
Writing
I was quoted in the article, 7 guidelines for identifying and mitigating AI-enabled phishing campaigns as published by CSO Online on 3/20/2023. Below were…
Concert Explorer
Sites
My original concept was “Concert Buddies” which would match you to people based on concert attendance, but that concept was reduced to a potential…
Joywave Concert
Music
After repeated attempts to see Joywave with pandemic delays and cancellations, I finally got to see them on April 5, 2023. Easily my favorite…
A Potentially Offensive Website
Sites
A community driven scoring system is a perfect solution to identifying what is offensive. There are always people who have no idea how some…
2022
My Video Created with AI about AI
Tech
The potential of AI technology on our world is a topic I am fascinated with, and I’ve been reading and thinking a lot about…
AppManageEvent 2022
Project
Another great event. It was so good to actually be back in person after having to resort to a remote presence last year. I…
Why Application Packaging Will Always Be Relevant
Speaking
I was interviewed by Juriba about packaging and its role today. Video elements are included. A summary of the questions posed to me that…
More and More MSIX Discussions
Project
In May of 2022 took part in a roundtable discussion with Revenera (InstallShield) on the topic of MSIX from a ISV and Enterprise perspective…
2021
NFT Packs
NFTs
Along the same lines of how it’s fun to open a blind box and see if you got a good/rare/valuable item or an ugly/common/cheap…
App Manage Event 2021
Speaking
I delivered a couple of sessions at the AppManageEvent as per usual, but it was also unusual. After 2020 being outright cancelled, I was…
SVM Integration with VMWare Workspace ONE
Project
There are more and more companies beginning to adopt Workspace ONE for Windows endpoint management. Starting live as AirWatch it focused on mobile use…
Craft Beer Spots NFTs
NFTs
I’ve been having a good time collecting NFTs on the Worldwide Asset eXchange (WAX). I guess it was only a matter of time before I…
The Weezer NFT Situation
NFTs
Weezer launched their NFT collectible sale on April 28, 2021 and less than a week later prices have plummeted. Looks like a big sale…
AdminStudio Is A Patch Catalog?
Writing
I took on product management for AdminStudio (nearly 4 years ago now, back in September of 2017). All the while, I have been working…
2020
Communicating Roadmaps for Mature Products
Products · Speaking
It’s important to reassure customers invested in products that are not getting the same marketing attention they once did in light of newer, shinier…
Packaging Experts Round-table Series
Speaking
Originally the plan was for six sessions, but despite a great response we had to cut it short due to resourcing constraints. UPDATE: I’m…
A 7 Part Video Podcast
Speaking
At Microsoft Ignite 2018, we had a room and video equipment to record sessions and my good friend Alejandro Lavie suggested we take the…
Packaging from Home
Project
With so many people working from home that don’t normally working for home during this crazy period of COVID-19, I thought it worth sharing…
Dubex 2020
Project
The team behind the event did a nice write up to promote my sessions where they went into my background to help sell it…
Software Security & Vulnerability Seminar
Speaking
To take better advantage of the long trip to Denmark for Dubex, I also delivered a half day seminar covering software vulnerability management and…
AdminStudio Customer Day 2020
Speaking
It’s always great to get out and get some face-time with my great team in Bangalore, India. It’s a about a 30 hour trip…
Modern Application Packaging with AdminStudio
Speaking
I presented an update on packaging and what’s been happening with AdminStudio to ZENworks customers (who enjoy access to a Limited Edition of AdminStudio).…
Craft Beer Artwork
NFTs
I love craft beer and am regularly impressed by the graphics I see on cans and bottles. Some are much better than others of…
Solving the Package/Patch Challenge
Products · Speaking · Writing
There’s nothing like sinking your teeth into an important new project to really make your job feel rewarding. I hesitate to rewrite/reword existing content…
2019
the Blade & the Bullet
Sites
I was in need of a new creative outlet and came up with this. I like making music with apps, with Ableton Live, etc.…
App Manage Event 2019
Project
This is an event I look forward to every year. This year was no exception. I had two sessions this time around (my 10th…
Problems with the new Book Book iPhone case
Tech
I’ve been using Book Book for my iPhone case for my last few iPhones now and was cautiously optimistic about Twelve South’s latest design.…
Grandson – Live at the UnderGround CLT (Sept 2019)
Music
What a great show. I had the pleasure of seeing Grandson play once a year earlier at the same location when they opened for…
Road Map Technologies: Software Vulnerability Management Webinar
Project
I provided an overview of the Software Vulnerability Manager product for my friends at Road Map Technologies who offer SVM, AdminStudio and other products…
Flexera Threat Intelligence
Speaking
I did multiple online events, internal and external, in support of a new module (the Threat Intel Module) for my Software Vulnerability Manager (SVM)…
Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Job After an Attack
Speaking
This Redmond Magazine hosted event covered things you can do to help ensure that if attacked, you can keep your job. Note that’s after…
MSIX – The Future of Software Packaging
Speaking
This was a particularly fun event. MSIX was announced as the new packaging format and demand for information on the topic was high. As…
The Mike O’Meara Show
Blog
I enjoyed the Don & Mike show when I lived in DC, when it was on the air many years ago. I made it…
2018
Atmosphere 2018
Music
I caught Atmosphere touring for there great new album Mi Vida Local in Charlotte last week and was happy to get a great spot…
VMworld Europe 2018
Speaking
On November 6th, 2018 I had the pleasure of participating in a session with VMware in Barcelona to announce new integration between AdminStudio and Workspace…
Automating AdminStudio with PowerShell
Speaking
I wrote an article highlighting the video below as well as the script which is the focus of the presentation on the Flexera Blog,…
AppManagEvent 2018
Speaking
I had the pleasure of delivering a couple of sessions at the 2018 App Manage Event in Utrecht, Netherlands. Below were the abstracts for…
SCUP Catalogs vs. Software Vulnerability Manager
Writing
With the addition of SCUP to SCCM, a lot of people are looking to a SCUP catalog as a way to address the challenge…
MSIX: Getting to Know Microsoft’s New Packaging and Deployment Technology
Speaking
This was a cool session; getting to team up with Rod Trent on a topic like MSIX. We’ve both got a reputation in the…
Vulnerability Management Case Studies
Speaking
In this live interview/webinar, I spoke with Alan Lopez (Director of Marketing at Flexera) about examples of two large enterprises that got ahead of…
Product Insights (Video Series)
Speaking
After a brainstorming session about the fact that sites need to quickly, simply and easily provide answers that may be on the minds of…
A Proactive, Automated Approach to Application Readiness
Speaking
I was a speaker of the opening Keynote session for an IT Pro Today Virtual Event. The theme for the online event was Preparing for…
Flexera Blogs
Writing
In my role as Product Manager at Flexera, I have the opportunity to write on topics related to some of my favorite subjects… Application…
Building a Security Patch Management Program
Speaking
First at the Midwest Management Summit (MMS) 2018 and then once more as a webinar Kent Agerlund and myself presented on the topic of…
Spoon at the Orange Peel
Music
An amazing show and a great performance, I was very lucky to be right up front in the middle. I always enjoy recording shows,…
Application Packaging and Deployment Training
Products · Speaking
When I was between regular jobs and fully focused on AppDetails, it was suggested that I might create content for an eLearning site that…
2017
Product Review: SoftwareCentral
Writing
I had the pleasure of writing an extensive review (and accompanying video) for SoftwareCentral. I stood it up in a virtual environment and had…
Application Book Forward
Tech
I first got a copy of The Application Book by Tim Mangan as an early look of something I would review online. It was…
Craft Beer Spots
Sites
Long ago, I documented music mail order companies for my own needs and shared it as a product, later I documented deployment tips and…
Beer Blog
Blog
I’m a big fan of craft beer. I don’t get excited about food– in fact, there is a ton of food I don’t like…
Miike Snow at the Fillmore Charlotte
Music
I record a lot of concerts and have for many years. I started with a point and shoot camera that took video and it…
Day of the Dad
Blog
I thought this glass was share-worthy. Flying Saucer has a pint glass night from time to time where you can get limited edition beer…
Product Review: Raynet Packaging Suite
Writing
This was the first “Platinum” level review I wrote for AppDetails. This means it is both much longer and also includes a YouTube video…
BlindBoxes: The Game
Products
In support of my online store BlindBoxes, I conceived a simple game that could provide a fun way to augment and promote products there.
AppDetails Recommendation Services Explainer Video Project
Business
The idea of offering recommendation services for products and services is a bit of a new concept for many. It walks the line between…
Product Review: Setup Commander v2.0
Writing
My second AppDetails review was for Setup Commander. I had been tracking this product for years as a friend of its creator. The concept…
Product Review: Liquit v2.4
Writing
In my first product review for AppDetails.com, I had the pleasure of taking a close look at Liquit. It is a workspace management solution…
AppDetails
Sites
In what I call my 3.0 community (proceeded by AppDeploy and ITNinja) AppDetails is a clean slate reboot of my original community.
2014
Applying Agile Methodology to Application Deployment
Speaking
I was scheduled to do another keynote at the 2014 AppM anage Event (formerly known as the Packaging Event) and I almost turned down…
CGMiner on Raspberry Pi
Tech
Getting CGMiner running on Raspberry Pi was a fun challenge. I really don’t know but a few simple Unix commands so it was a…
Creating Deployment Packages with Scrum
Blog
As I’ve spent more and more time in recent years working in Scrum environments, it’s got me thinking how this agile process might adapt…
Sleigh Bells at the Fillmore in Charlotte, NC: April 28th, 2014
Music
I caught Sleigh Bells in Charlotte earlier this week and it was a great show. It was short at just under an hour but…
2013
Packaging Event 2013
Speaking
At the 2013 Packaging Event, I delivered a keynote session focused around packaging; addressing real-world problems and the solutions available. Including how to deal…
2012
DellWorld 2012, Camp Freddy Concert at ACL
Music
At DellWorld 2012, the evening event was at Austin City Limits and the description was very odd and read only “Camp Freddy and featured…
Streaming TV to AppleTV
TechDirecTV to AppleTV. It’s not as complicated as it sounds and may be obvious to someone who has all the parts, but here’s how…
Packaging Event 2012
Speaking
At the 2012 Packaging Event in Amsterdam, I spoke about the history and future of packaging and how the skills attained as a packager…
Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2012
Music
Virgin Mobile FreeFest is on its way this October 6th. I’ve gone the last couple of years and it is always an awesome time.…
Investing in Microsoft Surface; A tough call
TechI love my gadgets. I’ve been buying up the latest toys for some time and am the target audience when it comes to products…
ITNinja.com
Sites
AppDeploy.com was rebuilt from the ground up and relaunched as ITNinja.com in 2012. AppDeploy was written by Bob Kelly as a learning project (on…
BlindBoxes
Sites
I have a online store I run as a hobby from my home. Like writing a book, or releasing a CD, this was one…
2011
Playing with Windows 8 on Mac
TechAfter seeing the dreaded “VMware Fusion internal monitor error” (NOT_IMPLEMENTED report) from VMWare, a quick look around pointed me to VirtualBox as the way…
AppDeploy Origin Story: Part 3
BusinessPart three of a history about how AppDeploy came to be…
AppDeploy Origin Story: Part 2
BusinessPart two of a history of how AppDeploy came to be…
AppDeploy Origin Story: Part 1
BusinessPart one of a history on how AppDeploy came to be…
2010
New Technologies Available to Improve Repackaging
Writing
This was an article I wrote for Flexera in 2009. I can’t recall when it was actually published, but the file I stumbled upon…
Press, Quotes, News
Project
Bob is often called upon as an industry expert in publications and is also often quoted in the press in his various roles.
VMworld 2010 Interview
Business
I supposed it came off okay, but this impromptu interview totally freaked me out. The camera was two inches from my face and I’d…
Admin Script Editor
Products
Admin Script Editor is an award-winning script editor for Windows administrators, which introduced several innovations to the market.
Microsoft MVP Awards
Project
Bob was named Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the area of Setup and Deployment in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Running a product that was competitive…
2009
2010 Predictions on Application Distribution
Writing
Bob’s predictions for 2010 were focused on the Evolution of Application Distribution; that this would be the year application distribution changed forever and sure…
Books by Bob Kelly
Tech
I started with an eBook published by Real Time Publishers on the topic of Windows Desktop Administration. I then wrote a second digital book…
MP3 Helper
Products
In May of 2009 my friend Steve and I (iTripoli) released MP3 Helper as a tool that would help you to add artworks and…
Interop 2009
Speaking
Bob spoke at Interop 2009 in a session entitled, Automating Installations for Speed and Consistency. Bob spoke at Interop 2009 in a session entitled,…
2008
2008 Packaging Event
Speaking
Bob held a breakout session at the 2008 Packaging Event in Amsterdam.
KACE User Konference 2008
Speaking
Bob held two breakout sessions at the 2008 KACE User Konference.
Deploying and Administering Windows Vista Bible
Writing
Bob co-authored Deploying and Administering Windows Vista Bible with Nelson and Danielle Ruest.
AppDeploy Repackager
Products
In September of 2008 I was happy to announce a a free repackaging tool called AppDeploy Repackager. It was a fairly simple, freeware product…
Why is Software Installation Still Such a Mess?
Writing
Bob wrote the guest view article for the initial print release of the SD Times, published April 15, 2008. Entitled, Why is Software Installation Still…
The Start to Finish Guide to Scripting with KiXtart
Writing
The Start to Finish Guide to Scripting with KiXtart was first released as an eBook by NetImpress in 2003 (cover image at right). Then…
Windows Server 2008
Project
I was technical editor on the book, “Microsoft Windows Server 2008: The Complete Reference by Danielle Ruest and Nelson Ruest.
2007
Repackaging Best Practices (2007 KACE User Konference)
Speaking
Bob presented a session entitled Repackaging Best Practices: Repackaging and Not Repackaging at the 2007 KACE User Konference.
Realtime Vista Community
Writing
Back in 2007, Bob ran an online community for Realtime Publishers in the early days of the Windows Vista release. This involved several blog…
Scripting Articles for MCP Magazine
Writing
Bob wrote the scripting column at MCP Magazine for a while, but had to stop when other work became demanding of too much time.…
Troubleshooting the Windows Installer (MMS 2007)
Speaking
Bob held a session at MMS 2007 entitled, Troubleshooting the Windows Installer.
Network Diagnostics Technologies in Windows Vista
Writing
This white paper entitled, Network Diagnostics Technologies in Windows Vista was written for Microsoft to help describe the capabilities of the feature to identify…
2006
Microsoft’s Business Desktop Deployment (BDD)
Writing
In 2006, Bob authored a couple of the field team guides in Microsoft’s Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) documentation; specifically the guides for “core” applications…
Thinapp for Admins White Papers
Writing
In an effort to secure intellectual property and mitigate reverse engineering in Admin Script Editor, Thinapp was used. This was well before it’s acquisition by…
2005
MSI Testing for Wise
Writing
Bob wrote a paper entitled, MSI Testing for Wise (makers of Package Studio) in October of 2005. Bob wrote a whitepaper entitled Testing MSI…
Consulting: Bear Creek
Writing
In May of 2005, I took a week vacation from my full time consulting job with Integrated Data Systems in Virginia to take on…
Real-World Software Packaging
Speaking
Bob held a session with Nelson Ruest at the 2005 Microsoft Management Summit entitled, Real-World Software Packaging. Bob held a session with Nelson Ruest…
PackageCleaner
Products
After years of packaging and training people on packaging, it became increasingly clear to me that the most difficult thing to teach was the…
2004
Packaging and Customization Guide
Writing
In 2004, I wrote the below Packaging and Customization Guide. I don’t recall the circumstances around my authoring the paper, but I believe it…
Creating Transforms
Writing
In August of 2004, Bob wrote an article written for Flexera entitled, Creating Transforms: Important and Easy. This is another in a series of articles…
The Many Possible Results of Deploying a Bad Package
Writing
This was one in a series of articles written for Flexera on 2004 entitled, The Many Possible Results of Deploying a Bad Package. Because it…
New Technologies Available to Improve Repackaging
Project
In June of 2004, Bob wrote a paper written for Flexera entitled New Technologies Available to Improve Repackaging. This was one in a series of…
The Definitive Guide To Windows Desktop Administration
Writing
Sponsored by Script Logic, I was commissioned by RealTimePublishers to write this book which was released one chapter at a time over a period…
2003
Manage Fusion 2003
Speaking
Bob took part in a panel of experts session to discuss application packaging and deployment at ManageFusion 2003 (Altiris user conference).
The Definitive Guide to Windows Software Deployment
Writing
Bob was the technical editor for the RealTimePublishers book, The Definitive Guide to Windows Software Deployment. The free eBook was originally published in 2002,…
MSI Custom Actions with Wise Package Studio and the KiXscripts Editor
Project
Bob published an article written to promote the KiXscripts Editor (which later became the Admin Script Editor) and Wise Package Studio entitled, MSI Custom…
Definitive Guide to Windows Installer Technology for Administrators
Writing
Bob was the technical editor for the Definitive Guide to Windows Installer Technology for Administrators. This free book is still available from RealTimePublishers today
2002
Systems Management User Group: Silent Installation Options
Speaking
Bob spoke at the Systems Management User Group (SMUG) in the fall of 2002.
Software Packaging for Desktop Migrations
Writing
This was one of my first projects for Real Time Publishing as a technical editor. No longer available, below are two chapters I was…
2001
KiXscripts
Sites
As a fan of the KiXstart scripting language, I created this site which was first a community, but quickly evolved to become home to…
2000
AppDeploy Library
Products
Modeled after Microsoft’s TechNet Subscription service, I outsourced the development of an offline viewer which would serve up a version of the site where…
StupidApps
Sites
My friend Steven and I were a good two-person team where he and I covered product development and product management respectively. We created sites…
Flood
Music
I think it was U2’s Achtung Baby! release in 1991 when I took notice of producer Flood. I started looking through my CD collection…
1999
AppDeploy
Sites
AppDeploy first launched in September of 1999. It was originally a collection of my own notes created while working as an administrator of…
1994
RazorsEdge.net Website
Sites
My first website, which evolved from my RazorsEdge BBS, surfaced around 1998. It was rather random, focusing largely on music-related topics. Later, too, I…
1993
Razors Edge BBS
Sites
In about 1993 (not before the Internet, but before the Internet was used by the general public) online sharing meant dialing up to individual…