NSIS is a scriptable win32 installer/uninstaller system that doesn’t suck and isn’t huge. Its scripting language is a lovely coding experience with elements of PHP and assembly — just what I need at 3 AM. Other than that, it’s dandy. We’re using it at work, and it rocks. I’ve seen it popping up more and more as the installer framework for open source Windows programs, which makes sense, since NSIS itself is open source. Also, because other installer makers are even less user-friendly than assembly language, or cost several hundred dollars, or both.

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Twelve comments here (latest comments)

  1. And before there was NSIS, there was Inno Setup, which was great if you wanted something that looked like an InstallShield or other traditional Windows installation program. It’s also open source, and the license reads like it’s also probably Free (as in freedom) software.

    http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php

    — Vito #

  2. As the last comment says, inno setup seems to produce install programs for windows which feel a lot more like “normal” windows setup programs.

    And “Istool” (sorry can’t find the link) makes it really easy to build the configuration for it too.

    — John Burton #

  3. We’re using the “Modern UI” feature of NSIS, and it looks and feels just like a .msi installer. Inno Setup probably would have worked just as well for our needs (which are pretty basic as installers go); I honestly don’t remember why we chose one over the other.

    — Mark #

  4. ISTool is here:

    http://www.istool.org/

    — Mark #

  5. What’s astonishing is that an installer that started life with the name “SuperPIMP” is used by, for example, Sun to install the Java webstart. And all this for a side project by the winamp guys.

    — Anil #

  6. Advanced Combo Tricks (trackback)

  7. The best thing about Inno Setup is that unlike NSIS you don’t need to learn the hideous programming language to make a professional-looking installer.

    Where I work we used to use Wise, and before that Installshield. When I demonstrated the installers that I could produce in under half-an-hour using ISTool and Inno Setup, the installer developers had sudden grins on their faces! Fantastic stuff.

    Highly recommended.

    — Simon Steele #

  8. Good Lord, it’s 4 AM. What are you people doing up at this hour? I certainly hope you’re in a different timezone. I’m going to bed.

    — Mark #

  9. What? You mean the Internet isn’t only available in America, the Land of the Free?

    — Anonymous #

  10. I’ve been using NSIS since the SuperPIMP days, and it’s gotten steadily better. I’ve not tried Inno Setup, though; I’ll have to give it a look.

    — Stephen Granade #

  11. Hi Stephen! How’s your post-NC life going?

    — Mark #

  12. Another link for the InnoSetup curious:

    Inno Setup Extensions, which adds ‘Pascal scripting’ to Inno Setup, adds child components and tasks support to Inno Setup, uses a modern looking Setup icon and comes bundled with Inno Setup Preprocessor
    http://www.wintax.nl/isx/

    The scripting is actually really nice once you get your head round it, but I would say that coming from a Delphi backgound! (I’ve always thought Pascal was one of the cleaner languages anyway.)

    Also useful is the InnoSetup Extensions Knowledge Base:
    http://www13.brinkster.com/vincenzog/

    and the Inno Setup Preprocessor (included with ISX):
    http://www16.brinkster.com/yackimoff/ispp/

    God I love Inno; like Simon said it puts a grin on your face, especially if you’ve ever struggled with InstallShield’s scripting *spit*!

    — Stef Pause #

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