@nexustools/releasepackager

Pure Node.js, cross-platform Executable & Application Release Packager generating native installers and archives for Windows, macOS, and Linux from any host operating system with zero external tool dependencies.

Supports packaging any executable (compiled C/C++, Rust, Go, Zig, .NET, Python, Node SEA, custom runtimes, or multi-file application directories):

• Windows:
  • .zip Release (win-zip): Portable application directory with renamed <executable>.exe, injected PE32/PE32+ .rsrc icons (RT_ICON, RT_GROUP_ICON) and VS_VERSIONINFO (RT_VERSION).
  • .msi Installer (win-msi): Spec-compliant Windows Installer OLE2 Compound File (.msi) with embedded Microsoft Cabinet (media1.cab), interactive visual wizard (WelcomeDlg description & icon screen + InstallDirDlg & BrowseDlg folder picker), configurable C:\Program Files\<installPath> installation directory, Desktop & Start Menu shortcuts, and Add/Remove Programs metadata.
• macOS:
  • Mountable .dmg Disk Image (mac-dmg): Apple Universal Disk Image Format (koly trailer + blkx Mish zlib-compressed blocks) wrapping a native HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) filesystem containing <ProductName>.app (automatically wrapping standalone Mach-O binaries or customizing existing .app bundles with Contents/Info.plist, app.icns, and InfoPlist.strings), a Finder .DS_Store icon-view layout, a .background/background.png splash image (customizable via mac.splashBackground or auto-generated with the app on the left, an arrow in the center, and Applications on the right), and a /Applications symbolic link for drag-and-drop installation into Applications.
• Linux:
  • Debian .deb Package (linux-deb): Standard UNIX ar archive (debian-binary, control.tar.gz, data.tar.gz) installing into /opt/<app>, /usr/bin/<app>, /usr/share/applications/<app>.desktop, and /usr/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/<app>.png.
  • Flatpak Single-File Bundle (linux-flatpak): Self-contained .flatpak GVariant + OSTree static-delta bundle with sandbox permissions, .desktop export, and AppStream MetaInfo XML.
  • .zip Release (linux-zip): Portable archive preserving POSIX 0755 executable mode bits in the ZIP central directory alongside a .desktop launcher.

CLI Usage

# Generate a starter releasepackager.json config file
npx releasepackager --init

# Package any executable across Windows, macOS, and Linux
npx releasepackager --executable ./build/{platform}-{arch}/myapp{ext} --product-name "My App" --version 1.0.0

# Package an application directory for Windows (.zip, .msi)
npx releasepackager --input ./dist/win-x64 --platforms win --formats win-zip,win-msi

Programmatic API

import { ReleasePackager } from '@nexustools/releasepackager';

const packager = new ReleasePackager({
  projectDir: './my-project',
  outputDir: './release',
  appName: 'my-app',
  productName: 'My App',
  version: '1.0.0',
  appId: 'io.nexustools.myapp',
  executables: {
    'win-x64': './build/win-x64/my-app.exe',
    'osx-x64': './build/osx-x64/my-app',
    'osx-arm64': './build/osx-arm64/my-app',
    'linux-x64': './build/linux-x64/my-app'
  },
  platforms: ['win', 'osx', 'linux'],
  win: {
    arch: ['x64'],
    formats: ['win-zip', 'win-msi'],
    manufacturer: 'NexusTools',
    installPath: 'NexusTools\\MyApp',
    description: 'High-performance cross-platform desktop application',
    icon: './assets/icon.ico'
  },
  mac: {
    arch: ['x64', 'arm64'],
    formats: ['mac-dmg'],
    splashBackground: './assets/dmg-splash.png' // optional; auto-generated if omitted
  },
  linux: {
    arch: ['x64'],
    formats: ['linux-deb', 'linux-flatpak', 'linux-zip']
  }
});

const result = await packager.packageAll();
console.log(result.artifacts);