AppAttach is a development on the MSIX packaging tooling. In basic terms it’s a means to register regular MSIX apps on a device rather than physically installing them. No download or installation of the application binaries is required and the registration process is almost instantaneous. This could greatly reduce device provisioning times and enhance user experience.
When the MSIX application is launched the application files are accessed from VHD located on a fileshare. The user is unaware that the application is remote and to the user the application functions as any local application. Likewise if a device needs to reset or re-imaged these apps wont need to be re-installed. Perhaps enterprise state roaming could carry this application registration forward, since this process is so fast it’s not really an issue.
As Microsoft have announced that App-V would no longer being developed, it looks like MSIX AppAttach looks intended to become the standard Application streaming or layering technology. This couples nicely with Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop but will also work with physical devices or desktops. AppAttach will be supported by all MSIX applications packages, meaning the same package can be installed physically or remotely. This also means that the same MSIX package can be used in different client environments, without any changes needed.