Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) is a software for creating installation programs for the Windows operating system. It was originally developed by Nullsoft, who used the installer for their media player Winamp, among others. Today, NSIS is free software and is licensed under the zlib/libpng License. The source code of NSIS and the downloads are offered through SourceForge, where NSIS was awarded Project of the Month in January 2006. [1] The installer is a popular open-source alternative to commercial installers like InstallShield. [2]
NSIS itself consists only of a command-line compiler and a graphical user interface for the compiler, which aids in compiling and simplifies some settings. The installer includes LZMA compression, plug-in support, multilingual features. [2] Several other #third-party front-ends for NSIS are available.
When using NSIS in software products, it is not possible to obtain a certification from Microsoft as "Designed for Windows Vista" because NSIS is not capable of generating the necessary Windows Installer files.
Through the scripting language and the plugin interface, almost unlimited functions can be implemented in self-written installers. This includes managing system services, web-based installations, dynamic updates, repair and rollback functions.
An installer is based on a script, where each line is an instruction. The script file is compiled into an executable file containing all files (compressed) and the installation program (script commands) by the command-line compiler "makensis.exe", which can then be easily distributed. MakeNSISW is available as a graphical interface for makensis.
; Example script
Name "MyExample"
OutFile "installer.exe"
SetCompressor lzma
InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES\example"
InstallDirRegKey HKLM "SOFTWARE\example" "installdir"
LoadLanguageFile "${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Language files\German.nlf"
Page directory
Page instfiles
Section
SetOutPath $INSTDIR
File "myexample.exe"
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\example" "installdir" "$INSTDIR"
CreateShortCut "$DESKTOP\example.lnk" "$OUTDIR\myexample.exe"
SectionEnd
The adjacent images show the result of the above script. Using extensions like the "Modern UI" or specific plug-ins, visually appealing installation wizards can also be created.
Thanks to strong compression algorithms and low overhead, very small installers are possible, making NSIS ideal for distributing programs over the Internet.
Installers created with NSIS have security vulnerabilities when an outdated version is used. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Possible security vulnerabilities were closed in versions 2.47, [9] 2.50, [10] and 2.51. [11]
Creation of NSIS installers is supported by several pieces of third-party software:
Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) is a software for creating installation programs for the Windows operating system. It was originally developed by Nullsoft, who used the installer for their media player Winamp, among others. Today, NSIS is free software and is licensed under the zlib/libpng License. The source code of NSIS and the downloads are offered through SourceForge, where NSIS was awarded Project of the Month in January 2006. [1] The installer is a popular open-source alternative to commercial installers like InstallShield. [2]
NSIS itself consists only of a command-line compiler and a graphical user interface for the compiler, which aids in compiling and simplifies some settings. The installer includes LZMA compression, plug-in support, multilingual features. [2] Several other #third-party front-ends for NSIS are available.
When using NSIS in software products, it is not possible to obtain a certification from Microsoft as "Designed for Windows Vista" because NSIS is not capable of generating the necessary Windows Installer files.
Through the scripting language and the plugin interface, almost unlimited functions can be implemented in self-written installers. This includes managing system services, web-based installations, dynamic updates, repair and rollback functions.
An installer is based on a script, where each line is an instruction. The script file is compiled into an executable file containing all files (compressed) and the installation program (script commands) by the command-line compiler "makensis.exe", which can then be easily distributed. MakeNSISW is available as a graphical interface for makensis.
; Example script
Name "MyExample"
OutFile "installer.exe"
SetCompressor lzma
InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES\example"
InstallDirRegKey HKLM "SOFTWARE\example" "installdir"
LoadLanguageFile "${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Language files\German.nlf"
Page directory
Page instfiles
Section
SetOutPath $INSTDIR
File "myexample.exe"
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\example" "installdir" "$INSTDIR"
CreateShortCut "$DESKTOP\example.lnk" "$OUTDIR\myexample.exe"
SectionEnd
The adjacent images show the result of the above script. Using extensions like the "Modern UI" or specific plug-ins, visually appealing installation wizards can also be created.
Thanks to strong compression algorithms and low overhead, very small installers are possible, making NSIS ideal for distributing programs over the Internet.
Installers created with NSIS have security vulnerabilities when an outdated version is used. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Possible security vulnerabilities were closed in versions 2.47, [9] 2.50, [10] and 2.51. [11]
Creation of NSIS installers is supported by several pieces of third-party software: