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Looking to create a Linux installer that will work similar to Inno Setup on Windows (which is a great little tool to create installers on Windows).

My project is really simple (just a couple of folders) so I think that using autotools or cmake is too much effort.

Is there something that is straightforward like Inno Setup but for Linux?

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    What is Inno setup? Commented Oct 16, 2017 at 7:23
  • Important to know: Does your project need external dependencies (libraries that are not necessary installed on every system, certain version of glibc)? And: On what systems do you want it to run (only AMD64 or also x86, ARM, whatever? Commented Oct 16, 2017 at 7:27
  • My project does not need that, no. Commented Oct 16, 2017 at 7:41
  • @Pierre.Vriens It's a great little tool to create installers on windows. Commented Oct 16, 2017 at 7:42

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The closest, widely-used installer on Linux is MojoSetup, which you’ll see in action on lots of Linux games (including all the GOG.com Linux games).

You’re comparing apples and oranges though: cmake and the Autotools are build tools, not installation tools. If you want to ship a binary, most Linux users would expect either a distribution package (typically, .deb and/or RPM), or just a tarball containing the installation tree (/usr/local/bin with your binary and supporting files in the appropriate places). If you want a simpler build system, you might find the Meson Build system interesting.

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  • Thanks for correcting me! I am looking for installation tools and not building tools. Are there some more tools you would recommend besides MojoSetup? Commented Oct 16, 2017 at 7:55
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    No; the only other installation tools I’m aware of are InstallJammer, which is discontinued, and InstallAnywhere, which is commercial. It’s quite unusual to rely on installers on Linux systems... Commented Oct 16, 2017 at 8:52
  • Sadly, that's one of the things that holds it back. Commented Aug 23, 2023 at 5:57
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For those who stumble upon this question. There is NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) which runs under Windows and Linux. When I remember correctly there is even an integration for CMake.

https://nsis.sourceforge.io/Main_Page

Furthermore there is the Qt Installer Framework. Its multiplatform, too.

https://wiki.qt.io/Qt-Installer-Framework

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