How to Package a Spring Boot Application into an Executable Installer Using exe4j and Inno Setup

The author, a senior architect, describes how to turn a Spring Boot jar that runs correctly into a Windows executable installer that can be used by non‑technical users.

Preparation includes a bug‑free jar, the exe4j tool for converting the jar to an exe, and Inno Setup for bundling the exe with a local JRE into a single installer. Download links and passwords for exe4j and Inno Setup are provided.

Using exe4j, the jar is selected, a name and output path are set, the launch mode is chosen, and the 32/64‑bit compatibility option is enabled. In the VM parameters the option -Dfile.encoding=utf-8 is added. The JRE is configured, the client VM is selected, and the wizard is completed.

After exe4j finishes, a demo.exe appears on the desktop. Inno Setup is then opened, a new script is created, and the installer’s basic information (application name, version, etc.) is filled in. The previously generated exe is added to the script, language and output path are chosen, and the wizard is run to the final script step.

In the script the local JRE directory is copied into the installer with the following line:

Source: "自己本地JRE路径\*"; DestDir: "{app}\{#MyJreName}"; Flags: ignoreversion recursesubdirs createallsubdirs

Compiling the script produces a setup.exe that bundles the exe and JRE; installing it creates a shortcut and the final program can be run on any Windows machine without a pre‑installed JDK.