Windows Installer is an open-source npm module for developers who want to turn a JavaScript desktop app into a Windows setup package. It is not a wallet, miner or trading tool, and it is not built for end users. The project has had no code updates since November 29, 2016, so treat it as a reference rather than a maintained dependency.
The package, published as muon-winstaller, wraps the Squirrel approach to Windows packaging in a small API you call from a build script. This page explains what the module does, how a developer installs it, and what to check before using it. Its crypto connection is indirect: teams that ship Electron-style desktop front ends for wallets or node tools sometimes need a packaging step like this one.
What Is a Windows Installer Module?
A packaging module takes a finished application and produces the files a user needs to install it on Windows. Most people expect a setup file they can double-click, with shortcuts, an uninstall entry and a predictable install folder.
Windows Installer builds that layer for you from code. You describe the app in a script, and the module handles the repetitive packaging work so the same steps run identically on every build.
Who Needs a Packaging Tool Like This?
Small teams building Electron-based desktop programs are the typical audience. Imagine a group that ships a desktop client for a crypto node or a portfolio viewer and wants every release to produce the same installer.
Individual hobby developers can use it too, but they should be comfortable with Node.js and command-line work. End users never interact with the module directly; they only see the installer it produces.
Key Terms: Installer, Development Dependency and Build Script
A development dependency is a package needed only while you build the project. It is recorded separately from runtime dependencies, so it does not travel with your app.
A build script is a file, often written in JavaScript, that runs your packaging steps in order. Keeping packaging in a script means you can rerun it on a clean machine and compare the results.
Key features
Single-call installer build
Development dependency setup
Squirrel-style lifecycle handling
Open source on GitHub
How to install Windows Installer on Windows
- 1
Confirm your target and tools
Windows Installer targets Windows only, so use it when your build produces Windows packages. Set up Node.js and npm on your development machine first, since they are build-time tools. Get the module from the official source: the npm package or the brave/windows-installer repository on GitHub. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page.
- 2
Add the package to your project
Open a terminal in your project folder and run npm install --save-dev muon-winstaller. The --save-dev flag records the module as a development dependency in your project's package file.
- 3
Call the builder from a build script
Require the module in a build script and pass your application's settings to createWindowsInstaller. The function returns a promise, so await it or chain your next step after it finishes.
-
Handle startup events early
Add the electron-squirrel-startup check near the top of your main process file and return early when it fires. This lets the app process install, update or uninstall flags and exit within the short window Windows allows.
How to use Windows Installer
Windows Installer works inside your build process rather than as a standalone window. You write a short script, run it on a Windows machine, and check the output.
- Create a build script that requires muon-winstaller and calls createWindowsInstaller with your app's settings.
- Run the script from the project folder so the paths to your app resolve correctly.
- Locate the generated installer in the output location your script defines.
- Install the result on a clean Windows machine to confirm the setup works.
- Launch, update and uninstall the app to confirm it handles the Squirrel-style events.
- Keep the script in version control so every release follows the same steps.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source under a public GitHub repository
- Simple to call from a Node.js build script
- Keeps packaging steps repeatable across releases
- Source code is available for review before use
- No code updates since 2016, so compatibility with newer tooling is uncertain
- Not an end-user program; it requires development skills
- Offers no crypto-specific features of its own
- Lifecycle handling adds work to your app's startup code
Is Windows Installer safe?
Windows Installer has not received code updates since 2016, so confirm its current status before relying on it. Check the latest version on the official website and the GitHub repository, and weigh that age against your project's needs.
Install only from the npm registry or the official GitHub repository. Compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature of any downloaded archive with the value published by the project. Never install packaging tools from third-party mirrors or links in forum posts.
Because the code is old, review its dependencies with npm audit and read the packaging logic before running it on production files. Any installer it produces is only as trustworthy as the code you package, so sign your release binaries and test on a clean machine.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/brave/windows-installer. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Most programs in this catalog serve different jobs than Windows Installer. PSBT Commander is a Rust-based creator for Bitcoin partially signed transactions, and the Algorand PowerShell module is a scripting toolkit for interacting with the Algorand network. Neither one packages desktop applications.
Windows Installer sits in the packaging step of a desktop release. If you need an installer for an Electron app, compare it with actively maintained packaging tools before committing, because the 2016 last update is the main difference to weigh.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v2.3.4
- Last update
- 29 Nov 2016
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/brave/windows-installer
Frequently asked questions
No. Windows Installer is an npm module for developers who build Windows installers for desktop applications. It does not store keys, hold funds or connect to a blockchain on its own, so it fits in a release pipeline rather than in a user's daily crypto workflow.
It can be used safely if you take the usual precautions. Download it only from npm or the official GitHub repository, verify checksums, and review its dependencies. The project has not been updated since 2016, so inspect the code before using it in production.
Run npm install --save-dev muon-winstaller in your project folder. You need Node.js and npm on your development machine because they run your build scripts. The module is added as a development dependency, not as part of your shipped app.
No. You call it from code inside a build script. It does not have a graphical interface, so you run your script and check the generated installer afterward.
Windows starts apps with special command-line flags during first run, updates and uninstalls. Your app should recognize these flags, handle them quickly and exit, because the system gives it roughly 15 seconds to complete the operation.
It targets Windows only. The module is designed to produce Windows installers, so it is not a tool for macOS or Linux packaging. Check the repository for the details that apply to your project's build environment.
Verdict
Windows Installer suits developers who package Electron-style desktop apps for Windows and want a short, scriptable setup. It is free and open source, but it has not been updated since 2016, which limits its appeal for new projects. If you are an end user looking for a crypto tool, this is not the right download. Evaluate it carefully, read the code, and consider whether a more actively maintained packaging option fits your release process better.