Why Does NI Package Builder Take Hours to Create an Installer?

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Reported In

Software

  • NI Package Builder

Issue Details

When creating an installer using NI Package Builder (NIPB) with the New Package Installer option, my build process takes several hours or even days to complete.

Solution

This typically occurs when the installer includes a large number of packages (e.g., over 1,000). The reason for this extended build time is that NIPB generates a separate feed for each package added to the installer. Each feed contains the package and all its dependencies, and the process involves repeated operations such as copying packages to the pool directory and recalculating dependencies.

To reduce build time, use the New Local Repository option instead of New Local Installer.

A repository creates a single feed that includes all required packages and dependencies, eliminating the need for multiple feeds and redundant operations. This approach is much faster and better suited for scenarios where you need to replicate all installed packages on another system.

Once the repository is created, you can install it on the target machine by following the steps in the Package Manager User Manual.

Additional Information

  • NIPB does not always download packages from online feeds; it first checks the installer cache at:
    C:\ProgramData\National Instruments\NI Package Manager\packages
  • Some packages may require online download if installed using older WinMF technology or if installation failed midway.
  • Creating a repository is significantly faster than building an installer with multiple feeds.

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