Nixstaller

Nixstaller is a cool tool that makes it super easy to create installers for Unix-like systems. If you've ever had to install software on these systems, you know it can be tricky. But with Nixstaller, it’s a breeze!

Features of Nixstaller

This handy tool is programmed in C++ and sh, and the best part? You can translate it into different languages! Here are some awesome features:

• You can configure Nixstaller to fit your needs.


• Choose between gzip or bzip2 to compress your files.


• Select which frontends you want included in your installer.


• Specify frontends based on the Operating Systems you're targeting.


• Set an extraction directory—whether it's a default location, temporary space, or anywhere else you like!


• Run shell commands after files are extracted. You can even set parameters for each command (like using --prefix for './configure'), making it easier to customize before installation starts. This is especially useful if you’re compiling packages on your own system.

Creating an Installer with Nixstaller

When you create an installer using Nixstaller, it will generate a self-extracting archive thanks to makeself. Users just need to run this script, and here’s what happens:

• It extracts necessary files for the graphical frontends such as configuration files and translations.


• The default location for these extracted files is a subdirectory in /tmp.


• Nixstaller searches for the right frontend based on what's included and checks if X is running.


• Finally, it launches the selected frontend and cleans up any leftover files used during the installation process.

Requirements for Using Nixstaller

Requirements:

• Some additional libraries like ncurses, CDK, FLTK are linked statically by default.


• Certain system libraries (libm, libc) or X libraries remain dynamic since they require runtime support and don’t change often.

This means users don’t have to stress about dependencies! Plus, it's possible to provide different binaries tailored for various OSes or architectures. Want more info? Check out Nixstaller here!