Inno Setup jrsoftware.org

Inno Setup is a free installer tool for Windows programs designed to provide developers and organizations with a reliable and efficient way to deploy software applications. Since its introduction in 1997 by Jordan Russell and Martijn Laan, Inno Setup has evolved into a robust solution that rivals many commercial installers in terms of feature set and stability.

Key Features:

• Cross-Version Compatibility: Supports installation on all Windows versions from Windows 7 to Windows 11 (including ARM64 platforms), ensuring broad compatibility without requiring service packs.
• Advanced Installation Options: Offers extensive support for both administrative and non-administrative installations, enabling flexible deployment scenarios.
• Single EXE Creation: Allows developers to package applications into a single executable file for easy distribution, with disk spanning capabilities for larger installations.
• Comprehensive File Handling: Includes built-in support for "deflate," bzip2, and 7-Zip LZMA/LZMA2 compression formats, along with features like version comparison, in-use file replacement, and shared file counting.
• Customizable Interface: Provides a standard Windows wizard interface that can be customized to suit specific needs, including the creation of setup types such as Full, Minimal, or Custom.
• Shortcut and Registry Management: Enables the creation of shortcuts on the desktop, Start Menu, and other locations, along with registry and .INI entries for application configuration.
• Silent Installation and Uninstallation: Supports silent deployment modes, making it ideal for enterprise environments where unattended installations are required.
• Unicode Support: Fully supports Unicode to ensure compatibility with a wide range of languages and character sets.
• Scripting Capabilities: Includes an integrated Pascal scripting engine for advanced customization during installation and uninstallation processes.
• Minimal Footprint: Delivers all features in a lightweight package, with only 1.75 MB of overhead, ensuring minimal resource usage.

Audience & Benefit:

Ideal for developers, software vendors, and organizations deploying Windows applications, Inno Setup offers a cost-effective solution to create professional-grade installers without the need for expensive commercial tools. Its extensive feature set reduces development costs while providing flexibility and reliability in software deployment.

Inno Setup can be installed via winget, making it easy to integrate into existing workflows.