IzPack
Encyclopedia
IzPack is an open source
software installer generator that targets the Java
platform.
It generates installers that fit in single JAR
archives. As such, IzPack-generated installers are cross-platform
: the same installer works on any operating system
that has a working Java Runtime Environment. IzPack itself is a command-line utility, but a Java Swing based front end application, PackJacket
, exists, which aims to create a simpler way to make IzPack-generated installers.
IzPack is released under the terms of the liberal Apache License version 2.0
.
server hosted by Tuxfamily.
The project moved in January 2004 to BerliOS
. It later opted for Subversion instead of CVS.
In February 2008, the project moved to Codehaus
systems and freedesktop.org
-compliant desktop / window managers.
IzPack installers can be greatly customized. Each step of an installation is materialized by a panel. A wide range of panels is available for packagers to use: it is possible to freely choose and order them. Should the choice be too limited, custom panels can be created by application developers.
The installer builder is available as a command-line tool. It can be invoked from Apache Ant
automated build as well.
Finally, IzPack provides a set of utilities:
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
software installer generator that targets the Java
Java (Sun)
Java refers to several computer software products and specifications from Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, that together provide a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cross-platform environment...
platform.
It generates installers that fit in single JAR
JAR (file format)
In software, JAR is an archive file format typically used to aggregate many Java class files and associated metadata and resources into one file to distribute application software or libraries on the Java platform.JAR files are built on the ZIP file format and have the .jar file extension...
archives. As such, IzPack-generated installers are cross-platform
Cross-platform
In computing, cross-platform, or multi-platform, is an attribute conferred to computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented and inter-operate on multiple computer platforms...
: the same installer works on any operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
that has a working Java Runtime Environment. IzPack itself is a command-line utility, but a Java Swing based front end application, PackJacket
PackJacket
PackJacket is an open source application to create cross-platform Java installers. The installer generated can be a JAR or an EXE.PackJacket takes care of the XML code, compiling to Java, and wrapping into an EXE for faster and simpler generation of installers.PackJacket is released under the terms...
, exists, which aims to create a simpler way to make IzPack-generated installers.
IzPack is released under the terms of the liberal Apache License version 2.0
Apache License
The Apache License is a copyfree free software license authored by the Apache Software Foundation . The Apache License requires preservation of the copyright notice and disclaimer....
.
History
IzPack was started in 2001 by Julien Ponge. A community started to appear around the project, and the development began to be made using a CVSConcurrent Versions System
The Concurrent Versions System , also known as the Concurrent Versioning System, is a client-server free software revision control system in the field of software development. Version control system software keeps track of all work and all changes in a set of files, and allows several developers ...
server hosted by Tuxfamily.
The project moved in January 2004 to BerliOS
BerliOS
BerliOS is a project founded by FOKUS, a Fraunhofer Institute located in Berlin, to coordinate the different interest groups in the field of open source software and to assume a neutral coordinator function...
. It later opted for Subversion instead of CVS.
In February 2008, the project moved to Codehaus
Features
Although primarily meant to create cross-platform installers, IzPack allows for some operating system dependent customizations. For example, it is able to create shortcuts on Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
systems and freedesktop.org
Freedesktop.org
freedesktop.org is a project to work on interoperability and shared base technology for free software desktop environments for the X Window System on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It was founded by Havoc Pennington from Red Hat in March 2000.The organisation focuses on the user....
-compliant desktop / window managers.
IzPack installers can be greatly customized. Each step of an installation is materialized by a panel. A wide range of panels is available for packagers to use: it is possible to freely choose and order them. Should the choice be too limited, custom panels can be created by application developers.
The installer builder is available as a command-line tool. It can be invoked from Apache Ant
Apache Ant
Apache Ant is a software tool for automating software build processes. It is similar to Make but is implemented using the Java language, requires the Java platform, and is best suited to building Java projects....
automated build as well.
Finally, IzPack provides a set of utilities:
- a native application launcher that can be used to first check for a Java Runtime Environment, then launch the installers
- a tool that wraps installers inside self-extracting Windows executables (based on 7-Zip7-Zip7-Zip is an open source file archiver. 7-Zip operates with the 7z archive format, but can read and write several other archive formats. The program can be used from a command line interface, graphical user interface, or with Microsoft Windows shell integration. 7-Zip began in 1999 and is actively...
) - a tool that wraps installers inside Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
application bundles.