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Squirrel vs NSIS

See original GitHub issue

I have read the contribution documentation for this project.
I agree to follow the code of conduct that this project follows, as appropriate.
I have searched the issue tracker for an issue that matches the one I want to file, without success.

I am wondering why electron-forge is using Squirrel by default for Windows, while electron-build reports Squirrel as deprecated. Is that because the transition to NSIS should still be made or are there any other reasons to have Squirrel as default?

Issue Analytics

State:
Created 5 years ago
Comments:9 (2 by maintainers)

Top GitHub Comments

16reactions

MarshallOfSoundcommented, Apr 16, 2018

while electron-build reports Squirrel as deprecated

To be frank, that is a very misleading statement by the folks documenting over at electron-builder. Squirrel is no where close to being deprecated. I would claim that the majority of big Electron apps nowadays use Squirrel.Windows. Look at anything like Atom or Slack…

Is that because the transition to NSIS should still be made

IMO NSIS is a worse installation and user experience than Squirrel.Windows, and I don’t see us adding first party support for it any time soon. You can, of course, use the NSIS target from electron-builder as a target in electron-forge but I see Squirrel.Windows as the way moving forward.

To be 100% clear, Squirrel.Windows is “deprecated” in electron-builder only. The maker of electron-builder has no involvement in the release or maintenance of Squirrel.Windows and definitely doesn’t have the power to call it “deprecated”. I will continue recommending Squirrel.Windows to anyone who asks me.

TLDR: Use Squirrel 😄

4reactions

LeonardoRickcommented, Feb 10, 2021

So, for who’s starting now, whats the best library to use nowadays?

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