The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

The Dreaded installer

Ok.. I need to build an installer for a web application.

I know it's kind of a senstive subject for some.. but what is a good choice for an installer package? InstallSheild? Wise? Setup Factory?

It'll only happen on a Windows machine... and I need to be able to create a either a virtual web or a virtual directory under IIS and, ideally, I'd like to be able to create and seed a SQL database.

Thoughts? Opinions? Products to avoid?

Thanks

Bryan
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Wise is overpriced. Installshield is OK. Try Innosetup - huge support community and FREE.

Joe Hendricks
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

I've had good luck with the Nullsoft installer
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/home/

Elephant
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

InstallShield is evil.

Myron A. Semack
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

I've used Inno Setup and Nullsoft's NSIS in addition to InstallShield and I'd say go for one of the free ones (Inno or NSIS). There is no compelling reason to pay money for InstallShield or Wise... in fact, I've had more problems with the commercial offerings than the free ones, by far.

Mr Fancypants
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Check out http://discuss.fogcreek.com/joelonsoftware/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=14446
http://discuss.fogcreek.com/joelonsoftware/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=92659

Michael H. Pryor
Fog Creek Software
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

NSIS is my choice. It is easy to use and extend. I also love the BZ2 compression it has and the small overhead of the installer binary.

GinG
Wednesday, April 21, 2004