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NSIS 2.0 Final Released

Posted by timothy on from the install-you-must dept.

nandhp writes "The NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) project has finally released version 2.0 final. NSIS is a powerful open-source install system for Windows that is based on scripts. It was invented by Nullsoft for the distribution of WinAmp. You can get it here"

2 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. Re:"install scripts" by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Many apps do, but they usually provide an installer because it is more convenient. It is a single executable package which installs the application in the proper place (under Program Files if the application is half-ass decent) and adds a shortcut to the Start menu.

    Compare this to the folder method. You have to download a compressed archive, extract it, drag it to the proper folder, and create a shortcut (or alias or symbolic link) to the proper executable or executables (if the application has more than one program, such as a game and a level editor) in the proper location.

    Executable installers are generally very easy to work with:

    - Click on download link
    - Click "open"
    - App downloads to temporary location (WWW cache)
    - When download is complete, installer automtically opens
    - Click next a few times, click "I agree", click finish
    - App is installed

    This works 98% of the time.

  2. Second Life uses NSIS by Critter92 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Second Life has been hapily using NSIS -- featuring Super-PIMP(tm) technology -- for 3 years. We played with just about all of the different installers and settled on NSIS because it generated by far the fastest installs and also created the smallest files. Throw in the fact that it was incredibly easy to use and you had a winner. We haven't switched over to 2.0, though.