https://github.com/idleberg/atom-language-nsis
Atom/Pulsar language support for NSIS, including grammar, snippets and build system
https://github.com/idleberg/atom-language-nsis
atom atom-autocomplete atom-syntax build-tool language-syntax nsis nsis-language
Last synced: 3 months ago
JSON representation
Atom/Pulsar language support for NSIS, including grammar, snippets and build system
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/idleberg/atom-language-nsis
- Owner: idleberg
- License: mit
- Created: 2015-07-05T12:45:57.000Z (almost 11 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2026-03-05T21:15:53.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-03-06T00:57:32.042Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: atom, atom-autocomplete, atom-syntax, build-tool, language-syntax, nsis, nsis-language
- Language: JavaScript
- Homepage: https://atom.io/packages/language-nsis
- Size: 7.46 MB
- Stars: 5
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- Funding: .github/FUNDING.yml
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# atom-language-nsis
[](https://github.com/idleberg/atom-language-nsis/blob/master/LICENSE)
[](https://github.com/idleberg/atom-language-nsis/releases)
[](https://web.pulsar-edit.dev/packages/language-nsis)
[](https://github.com/idleberg/atom-language-nsis/actions)
Language syntax, auto-completions, formatter and build system for Nullsoft Scriptable
Install System (NSIS), as well as language syntax for NSIS Language Files.
_Screenshot of NSIS with [Fira Mono](http://mozilla.github.io/Fira/) font & the
[Hopscotch](https://web.pulsar-edit.dev/packages/hopscotch) theme_
## Features
- syntax grammar for NSIS and NSIS Language Files (.nlf)
- auto-complete core NSIS commands, variables and predefines
- auto-complete core Plugins:
- AdvSplash
- Banner
- BgImage
- Dialer
- InstallOptions
- LangDLL
- Math
- nsDialogs
- nsExec
- NSISdl
- Splash
- StartMenu
- System
- UserInfo
- VPatch
- auto-complete core libraries (“Useful Headers”):
- FileFunc
- LogicLib
- Memento
- Modern UI
- MultiUser
- Sections
- StrFunc
- WinMessages
- WinVer
- WordFunc
- x64
- [Drunken NSIS](#drunken-nsis)
- [Formatting](#formatting)
- [Build Tools](#building)
- [Linting](#linting)
- [Environment Variables](#environment-variables)
You can further extend this package with snippets for
[third-party plug-ins](https://web.pulsar-edit.dev/packages/nsis-plugins).
## Installation
> [!NOTE]
>
> The following guide assumes that you're by now using Pulsar, a
> community-driven fork of the Atom editor. Should you still be using Atom, use
> `apm` command instead of `ppm`.
### Package Manager
Install `language-nsis` from the editor's
[Package Manager](http://flight-manual.atom-editor.cc/using-atom/sections/atom-packages/)
or the command-line equivalent:
```bash
$ ppm install language-nsis
```
### Using Git
Change to your Atom packages directory:
**Windows**
```powershell
# Powershell
$ cd $Env:USERPROFILE\.pulsar\packages
```
```cmd
:: Command Prompt
$ cd %USERPROFILE%\.pulsar\packages
```
**Linux & macOS**
```bash
$ cd ~/.pulsar/packages/
```
Clone repository as `language-nsis`:
```bash
$ git clone https://github.com/idleberg/atom-language-nsis language-nsis
```
Inside the cloned directory, install its dependencies:
```bash
$ ppm ci
```
Build the source:
```bash
$ ppm run build
```
### Package Dependencies
This package automatically installs third-party packages it depends on. You can
prevent this by disabling the _Manage Dependencies_ option in the package
settings.
## Usage
### Completion
With most commands, you can specify available options before completion. For
instance, rather than completing `RequestExecutionLevel` and then specifying an
option, you can directly choose `RequestExecutionLevel user` from the completion
menu.
To complete
[compile time commands](http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Docs/Chapter5.html#),
[variables](http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Docs/Chapter4.html#varother) or
[predefines](http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Docs/Chapter5.html#comppredefines),
make sure to _omit special characters_ like `!`, `$` and brackets:
- `include` completes to `!include`
- `INSTDIR` completes to `$INSTDIR`
- `NSIS_VERSION` completes to `${NSIS_VERSION}`
However, you have to type `__LINE__` to complete to `${__LINE__}`.
There are several special cases for your convenience:
- `MB_OK` completes to `MessageBox MB_OK "messagebox_text"`
- `onInit` completes to a `Function .onInit` block
- `LogicLib` completes to `!include "LogicLib.nsh"`
#### Drunken NSIS
Fuzzy syntax completions are available through the “Drunken NSIS” snippets,
which iron out some of the inconsistencies of the NSIS language, for instance
word order.
**Example:**
- `FileRead` equals `ReadFile`
- `ReadINIStr` equals `INIStrRead`
- `SectionSetText` equals `SetSectionText`
- `LogSet` equals `SetLog`
- `FindFirst` equals `FirstFind`
- `${FindLine}` equals `${LineFind}`
### Formatting
Scripts can be formatted using the experimental [`@nsis/dent`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@nsis/dent) package. To do so, run *Format Document* or adjust your settings for auto-formatting.
### Building
There are many ways to compile NSIS scripts in Atom. But before you read on,
make sure `makensis` is in your
[PATH environment variable](http://superuser.com/a/284351/195953).
This package contains a build system to compile your NSIS scripts. To trigger a
build, select _“NSIS: Save & Compile”_ from the
[command-palette](https://atom-editor.cc/docs/latest/getting-started-atom-basics#command-palette)
or use the keyboard shortcut.
If you prefer working with custom compiler arguments, you can specify them in
the
[package settings](https://flight-manual.atom-editor.cc/using-atom/sections/atom-packages/#package-settings).
Optionally, you can also specify the path to `makensis`.
#### Third-party Build Tools
Should you prefer working with an existing third-party build system, the
following packages already have support for NSIS.
- [`build-makensis`](https://web.pulsar-edit.dev/packages/build-makensis)
- [`script`](https://web.pulsar-edit.dev/packages/script)
- [`atom-runner`](https://web.pulsar-edit.dev/packages/atom-runner)
Project files for `build-makensis` can be created by executing _“NSIS: Create
.atom-build file”_ from the
[command-palette](https://atom-editor.cc/docs/latest/getting-started-atom-basics#command-palette)
or using the keyboard shortcut. You can specify your preferred build file syntax
(JSON/YAML) in the package settings.
You can set up `atom-runner` by executing _“NSIS: Set default runner”_ from the
[command-palette](https://atom-editor.cc/docs/latest/getting-started-atom-basics#command-palette)
or packages menu. To remove it, use _“NSIS: Remove default runner”_.
### Linting
This package will install an
[Atom linter](https://github.com/idleberg/atom-linter-makensis/) provider for
`makensis`. By default, NSIS documents get linted when opened or saved. Make
sure to refer to the
[`linter-makensis`](https://github.com/idleberg/atom-linter-makensis#settings)
documentation to learn about available lint modes and other settings.
### Other Commands
There are several other, previously unmentioned commands available from the
[command-palette](https://atom-editor.cc/docs/latest/getting-started-atom-basics#command-palette):
| Command | Description |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| `NSIS: Command Reference` | Look up NSIS command online |
| `NSIS: Open Package Settings` | Opens settings page |
| `NSIS: Show Version Info` | Shows current version of NSIS |
| `NSIS: Show Compiler Flags` | Shows output of `makensis /HDRINFO` |
| `NSIS: Convert Language File` | Converts NLF to JSON and vice versa |
### Environment Variables
This extension supports a variety of ways to provide environment variables such
as `NSISDIR` or `NSISCONFDIR`. The following precedence applies:
1. `.env` files
2. system-wide environment variables
**Note:** Some operating systems require the editor to be launched from terminal
in order to access system-wide environment variables.
Additionally, you can pass special environment variables prefixed with
`NSIS_APP_` as definitions to your installer script.
Example
```env
# .env
NSIS_APP_ENVIRONMENT=development
```
```nsis
# installer.nsi
!if ${NSIS_APP_ENVIRONMENT} == "development"
DetailPrint "Valuable Debug Information"
!endif
```
## Related
- [node-makensis](https://www.npmjs.com/package/makensis) - Node wrapper for
`makensis`
- [vscode-nsis](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=idleberg.nsis) -
NSIS package for Visual Studio Code
## License
This work is under [The MIT License](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).