Nullsoft is a software house founded by Justin Frankel in 1997. As a team of developers, they have created several popular computer programs, notably the media playback software Winamp and the streaming MP3 server SHOUTcast.

The company's name is a humorous take on Microsoft, noting that null is smaller than micro. Also notable is the companies mascot, Mike the Llama . Nullsoft was acquired by America Online on June 1, 1999, and from that point onward exists as a subsidiary. It is currently a division of AOL Music.

Nullsoft created NSIS, an open source, scriptable, installer system. The program is now a widely used alternative to InstallShield. Their latest developments include the Nullsoft Streaming Video (NSV) format, whose goal is to be easily streamed, and to support any audio and video codec. NSV is being used on Nullsoft Television [1]. NSV is the only format accepted by Nullsoft's Worldwide Public Access Television. Another place NSV is used is on the (in development) Ultravox system.

Nullsoft is also famous for the creation of Gnutella and WASTE.

On November 11, 2004 news broke that AOL closed the company. These were unsubstantiated rumours relating to the recent departure of several key members in the months before.

External links

• Nullsoft Homepage
• NSIS Development Website
• Death Knell Sounds for Nullsoft, Winamp
• Winamp.com news article following closure rumours