NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) is a professional open source system to create Windows installers. It is designed to be as small and flexible as possible and is therefore very suitable for internet distribution.

Being a user's first experience with your product, a stable and reliable installer is an important component of succesful software. With NSIS you can create such installers that are capable of doing everything that is needed to setup your software.

NSIS is script-based and allows you to create the logic to handle even the most complex installation tasks. Many plug-ins and scripts are already available: you can create web installers, communicate with Windows and other software components, install or update shared components and more.

Features:

• Small overhead size
• Compatible with all major Windows versions
• Unique compression methods
• Script based
• Multiple languages in one installer
• Many features and checks for the target system
• Custom dialogs and interfaces
• Plug-in system
• Support for web installation, file patching
• Project integration, different releases and automatic builds
• Easy and human readable file formats
• Portable Compiler

What's New in version 2.42:

NSIS 2.42 is released. This release includes a new simpler and more powerful plug-in API, vastly improved and thoroughly tested version of WinVer.nsh, and disposes of two great evils - /NOUNLOAD and useful header functions usage declaration. As usual and especially for the holiday season, the customary collection of bug fixes and minor improvements is also included free of charge.

Release Notes:

• Plug-in developers should check out the new plug-in API in ExamplesPlugin and convert their plug-ins, especially in case they require staying loaded.

Major Changes:

• Deprecated /NOUNLOAD and SetPluginsUnload to make scripts simpler and safer (patch #1912699)
• Useful header functions no longer require usage declaration and different syntax for uninstaller functions
• Revamped plug-in API now comes in the form of pluginapi.lib, API version information and more common functions (patch #2359978)

Minor Changes:

• Added !searchreplace preprocessor command for compiletime text search/ replaces
• Added support for registration of EXE COM servers (RFE #2315740)
• Minor documentation improvements (including bug #2386821)
• nsDialogs: Added timer support (patch #2135855)
• WinVer.nsh: Added IsServer, IsWin2003R2, IsStarterEdition, OSHasMediaCenter and OSHasTabletSupport (patch by Anders)
• WinVer.nsh: Fixed 95/NT4 ambiguity (bug #2053642)
• WinVer.nsh: Proper Windows XP x64 detection (bug #2053700)
• WinVer.nsh: Windows 2008 detection support (RFE #1949260)

Translations:

• Minor English grammar improvements (bug #2323452)

Build System:

• ull System compatibility with GCC (patch #2193442)