makensis
compiles NSIS installer scripts
TLDR
Compile installer script
$ makensis [script.nsi]
Compile with maximum verbosity$ makensis /V4 [script.nsi]
Define a symbol$ makensis /D[NAME=value] [script.nsi]
Add include path$ makensis /I[/path/to/includes] [script.nsi]
Log compiler output to file$ makensis /O[logfile.txt] [script.nsi]
Treat warnings as errors$ makensis /WX [script.nsi]
Show help for a command$ makensis /CMDHELP [command]
SYNOPSIS
makensis [options] script
DESCRIPTION
makensis compiles NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) scripts into Windows installer executables. It runs natively on Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it useful for cross-platform build pipelines.
PARAMETERS
SCRIPT
NSIS script file (.nsi). Use - for stdin./V LEVEL
Verbosity level: 0=none, 1=errors, 2=warnings, 3=info, 4=all./D NAME[=VALUE]
Define a symbol for the script preprocessor./I DIR
Add an include path for !include directives./O FILE
Log compiler output to file./X "command param"
Execute NSIS command inline./NOCONFIG
Disable inclusion of nsisconf.nsh./NOCD
Disable changing directory to the .nsi file location./WX
Treat warnings as errors./P LEVEL
Compiler priority: 0=idle, 1=below normal, 2=normal, 3=above normal, 4=high, 5=realtime./CMDHELP [command]
Print help for a specific command, or all commands./HDRINFO
Print makensis compile-time options./PPO
Run preprocessor only, print result to stdout.
CAVEATS
Generates Windows-format installers. NSIS script syntax must be learned separately. On Linux, options use / prefix (e.g., /V4) not - prefix.
HISTORY
NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) was created by Nullsoft, makers of Winamp.
SEE ALSO
wine(1)
