Development Windows
Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) for Windows
Create Windows installers with NSIS, a free, open-source tool that uses scripts to control file installation, uninstallers and custom setup pages.
Version 3.13 · Direct publisher file
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What is Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS)?
NSIS turns installation scripts into self-contained Windows executable installers. It is aimed at developers who need to distribute software with their own setup logic: copying files, creating shortcuts, changing registry entries and providing an uninstaller. Integrated ZLib, BZip2 and LZMA compression let you package installation data without a separate self-extracting archive tool.
Scripts can add version checks, upgrade logic, component choices and custom wizard pages. Multiple interface languages can share one installer, and plug-ins extend tasks such as downloading files or patching an existing installation. The package includes a basic compiler interface; the publisher points frequent script authors toward separate development environments.
NSIS is script-based, so custom setup behavior needs installation logic rather than just a list of files. Its compiler can also be built for POSIX systems, but the installers it generates still run only on Windows. The gallery image shows a historical NSIS 2.0b3 component-selection screen, not the appearance of the linked 3.13 release.
What it offers
- Generate self-contained executable installers with uninstall support.
- Compress installation data with ZLib, BZip2 or LZMA.
- Script file operations, registry changes, shortcuts, version checks and upgrade behavior.
- Create custom wizard pages and multilingual installer interfaces, including right-to-left languages.
- Extend installation tasks with plug-ins for web downloads, file patching and custom dialogs.
Good to know
- Custom installation behavior requires NSIS scripts; the included compiler interface is basic rather than a complete development environment.
- Generated installers run on Windows only, even when the compiler is built on a POSIX system.
- The screenshot depicts the historical 2.0b3 setup interface, not the linked 3.13 release.
Product images
Sources
References used for this listing. Retrieval dates do not indicate hands-on testing.
- NSIS Wiki — Main Page ↗Retrieved
- Download - NSIS ↗Retrieved
- Features - NSIS ↗Retrieved
- License - NSIS ↗Retrieved
- Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) - Download ↗Retrieved
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