Inno Setup

Inno Setup

Inno Setup is an open-source installation and setup authoring tool for Windows programs and software packages. It allows developers to easily create installers with basic to advanced functionality, including multi-language support, custom dialogs and screens, conditional logic, a
Inno Setup image
installer setup authoring windows

Inno Setup: Open-Source Installation Tool for Windows Programs

An open-source installation authoring tool for creating installers with advanced functionality, including multi-language support and custom dialogs, for Windows programs and software packages.

What is Inno Setup?

Inno Setup is an open-source installation and setup authoring tool for Windows programs and software packages. First released in 1997, it allows developers to easily create installers with basic to advanced functionality, including:

  • Multi-language support for Unicode-based installers
  • Customizable setup wizard screens and dialogs
  • Conditional statements and expressions
  • Registry, INI file, and file/folder operations
  • Default and optional components
  • Pre- and post-install tasks
  • Uninstall logging and uninstallation
  • Digital signing and certificate validation
  • Runtime compression and encryption
  • Custom actions, messages, and Pascal scripting

Inno Setup generates native Windows installers (EXE files), requires no runtimes or additional DLLs, and is used by many popular open-source and freeware products like Audacity, FileZilla, PuTTY, and more. It has an active community providing free support as it continues to be maintained and developed with new features.

Inno Setup Features

Features

  1. Create installers for Windows programs
  2. Multi-language support
  3. Customizable installer UI
  4. Conditional logic
  5. Registry and file manipulation
  6. Scripting using Pascal Script

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Easy to use graphical interface

Powerful scripting capabilities

Wide range of functionality

Active community support

Cons

Windows only

Steep learning curve for advanced features

Not as feature rich as some paid tools

Scripting requires Pascal knowledge


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