Packaging a Spring Boot Application into an Executable Installer with exe4j and Inno Setup
This tutorial walks through preparing a functional Spring Boot JAR, converting it to an EXE with exe4j, bundling a local JRE, and creating a single‑click installer using Inno Setup, enabling non‑technical users to install and run the application without a separate Java environment.
The author describes a step‑by‑step process for turning a working Spring Boot JAR into a Windows executable that can be installed by users who are not familiar with Java.
Preparation : Ensure you have a bug‑free JAR, download exe4j (registration code L-g782dn2d-1f1yqxx1rv1sqd) and Inno Setup (extraction code g9jd).
Creating the EXE with exe4j : Open exe4j, select "Java to EXE", specify the output name and path, choose the launch mode, and enable both 32‑bit and 64‑bit compatibility. In the VM parameters field add -Dfile.encoding=utf-8 . Configure the bundled JRE so the generated EXE can locate the JRE without requiring a separate Java installation.
Packaging with Inno Setup : Start a new Inno Setup project, fill in basic application information, and add the generated EXE. Continue through the wizard, selecting the output folder and installer name. When prompted for the script, insert a line that copies the local JRE into the installer, for example: Source: "YourLocalJREPath\*"; DestDir: "{app}\{#MyJreName}"; Flags: ignoreversion recursesubdirs createallsubdirs
After completing the wizard, compile the script; the compiler will produce a setup.exe installer. Running this installer on a target machine installs the bundled EXE and JRE, creates a shortcut, and allows the application to run without any prior Java setup.
The article concludes with a reminder that the resulting installer can be distributed to end users, providing a seamless installation experience.
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