Dan Miser - Nullsoft Installer

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

I recently had the need to release an application using an installer. The install had fairly simple needs, so I gave the free Nullsoft Scriptable Install System for a spin. It's certainly a little different to set things up compared to other installers, but it works flawlessly. My installer has a Modern UI, installs files, writes registry entries, has separate component install options, has a custom page that writes to an INI file depending on install options, and creates an uninstaller. The script syntax wasn't exactly intuitive, but the examples and documentation were more than adequate to get me up and running with minimal troubles. It also looks like I will be able to grow into this installer since it has some more advanced features (callbacks, plugins, etc.) should I need them. I was able to get the installer working in FinalBuilder 2, but I see that it is natively supported in FinalBuilder 3, too.

Give it a try, and I'm betting you'll like it, too.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005 2:11:00 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

Wednesday, June 01, 2005 3:14:00 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

I actually used the Nullsoft Installer. It is one I have see used by a lot of programs I download. It was nice, but I ended up using Inno Setup by JR Software instead. The main selling point (even though it is free as well) was the Setup wizard. If your needs are simple the Wizard does all the work for you. After the wizard runs you can then tweak the script. You can get Inno Setup here: http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php

Jim McKeeth

Friday, June 03, 2005 7:32:00 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

I also tried both Nullsoft Installer and InnoSetup, and my vote definitely goes to InnoSetup, hands-down.

Marc Scheuner

Saturday, June 04, 2005 3:25:00 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

Great. Where were you guys when I was trying to find a free, simple installer a couple weeks ago? :-)

Thanks much for the input on InnoSetup. I may have to check on using that one now.

Dan Miser

Monday, June 06, 2005 10:22:00 AM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

And Inno Setup has Pascal Scripting, is written in Delphi and the source code is available.

Dave Craggs

Monday, June 13, 2005 7:31:00 AM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

i tried both NSIS and Inno, and I found Inno to be easier to use. My vote goes to Inno too.

pravin

Thursday, June 16, 2005 1:56:00 AM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

We used to use InstallShield until we realized it was the devil when it came to application upgrades and making multiple branded builds from one install. We then tried Inno and while it was easy there are some advanced things that NSIS works much better at and it's smaller.

As much as I love jrsoftware and that fact that Inno is Delphi, NSIS is my vote for an installer. There are a handful of editors for NSIS scripts and all of them come with a wizard to make creating a modern UI script a snap, including the uninstall and readme options.

After using both Inno and NSIS *extensively* (think chained installs, bundled server & client, some low level system calls, custom forms, internet updates where the installer hits the internet and downloads newest componets, etc) I feel NSIS is the better choice.

As always, milage varies.

Shawn Oster

Sunday, July 03, 2005 8:02:00 AM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

I tried NSIS & Inno Setup. For me Inno Setup is the best choice.

Phil

Sunday, April 09, 2006 7:20:00 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

Is the better choice

kevin

Saturday, May 27, 2006 1:03:00 PM (Central Daylight Time, UTC-05:00)

Hi,

Which is best freeware installer for big size programs like more than 50 MB or so??

Sandy

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