IzPack

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.
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 CVS 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
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 Windows 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:
* 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-Zip)
* a tool that wraps installers inside Mac OS X application bundles.

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