Open Source Build Automation and Installer/Wizard Development Toolsets

Below is a list of handy utilities for developing application installers/wizards.

These tools combined can be used to build enterprise grade system configuration applications to automate those tedious deployment and configuration tasks.


Nullsoft Scriptable Install System:


Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) is a script-driven Windows installation system with minimal. NSIS has risen to popularity as a widely used alternative to commercial and proprietary products like InstallShield.


http://sourceforge.net/projects/nsis/
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Category:Plugins




Windows Installer XML - WiX:


The Windows Installer XML (WiX) is a toolset that builds Windows installation packages from XML source code. The toolset supports a command line environment that developers may integrate into their build processes to build MSI and MSM setup packages.


http://zelenkov.com/twix/download/



Build automation/scripting:


Nant
NAnt is a free and open source software tool for automating software build processes. It is similar to Apache Ant, but targeted at the .NET environment rather than Java.


Other:


SuperOrca
An MSI Editor from Microsoft. SuperOrca may be used to examine and modify an MSI database.


Free Windows Installer Designers:
http://www.innosetup.com/isinfo.php
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/features.html