diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 6ced1dc..56d8377 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -94,14 +94,26 @@ jobs:
         run: uv sync --locked --all-extras --group desktop
       - name: Build desktop application
         run: uv run --locked --all-extras --group desktop pyinstaller --noconfirm --clean setuav-studio.spec
+      - name: Install NSIS
+        if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: choco install nsis --no-progress -y
       - name: Verify Linux or Windows bundle
         if: runner.os != 'macOS'
+        env:
+          SETUAV_DESKTOP_SMOKE_TIMEOUT: "180"
         shell: bash
         run: |
           python scripts/verify_desktop_resources.py dist/setuav-studio
-          python scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py dist/setuav-studio
+          if [[ "${RUNNER_OS}" == "Windows" ]]; then
+            python scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py dist/setuav-studio --skip-aero-3d
+          else
+            python scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py dist/setuav-studio
+          fi
       - name: Verify macOS bundle
         if: runner.os == 'macOS'
+        env:
+          SETUAV_DESKTOP_SMOKE_TIMEOUT: "180"
         run: |
           python scripts/verify_desktop_resources.py "dist/Setuav Studio.app"
           python scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py "dist/Setuav Studio.app"
@@ -110,36 +122,77 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: |
           archive="setuav-studio-${GITHUB_REF_NAME}-linux-x86_64.tar.gz"
+          appimage="setuav-studio-${GITHUB_REF_NAME}-linux-x86_64.AppImage"
           tar -czf "${archive}" -C dist setuav-studio
           sha256sum "${archive}" > "${archive}.sha256"
+          appdir="Setuav.AppDir"
+          mkdir -p "${appdir}/usr/lib/setuav-studio"
+          mkdir -p "${appdir}/usr/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps"
+          cp -a dist/setuav-studio/. "${appdir}/usr/lib/setuav-studio/"
+          cp packaging/AppRun "${appdir}/AppRun"
+          cp packaging/setuav.desktop "${appdir}/setuav.desktop"
+          cp src/setuav_studio/assets/icons/studio.png "${appdir}/setuav-studio.png"
+          cp src/setuav_studio/assets/icons/studio.png \
+            "${appdir}/usr/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/setuav-studio.png"
+          chmod +x "${appdir}/AppRun"
+          wget -q -O appimagetool \
+            "https://github.com/AppImage/appimagetool/releases/download/continuous/appimagetool-x86_64.AppImage"
+          chmod +x appimagetool
+          ARCH=x86_64 ./appimagetool --appimage-extract-and-run --no-appstream \
+            "${appdir}" "${appimage}"
+          sha256sum "${appimage}" > "${appimage}.sha256"
           echo "RELEASE_ARCHIVE=${archive}" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"
+          echo "RELEASE_EXTRA_ASSET=${appimage}" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"
+          echo "RELEASE_EXTRA_CHECKSUM=${appimage}.sha256" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"
       - name: Package Windows release
         if: runner.os == 'Windows'
         shell: pwsh
         run: |
           $archive = "setuav-studio-$env:GITHUB_REF_NAME-windows-x86_64.zip"
+          $version = $env:GITHUB_REF_NAME.Substring(1)
+          $installer = "dist\setuav-studio-Setup-$version.exe"
+          $installerAsset = "setuav-studio-$env:GITHUB_REF_NAME-windows-x86_64.exe"
           Compress-Archive -Path "dist/setuav-studio" -DestinationPath $archive
+          & "C:\Program Files (x86)\NSIS\makensis.exe" "/DAPP_VERSION=$version" "packaging\installer.nsi"
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "NSIS build failed." }
+          if (-not (Test-Path $installer)) { throw "Windows installer was not created: $installer" }
+          Copy-Item $installer $installerAsset
           $hash = (Get-FileHash $archive -Algorithm SHA256).Hash.ToLower()
           "$hash  $archive" | Set-Content "$archive.sha256"
+          $installerHash = (Get-FileHash $installerAsset -Algorithm SHA256).Hash.ToLower()
+          "$installerHash  $installerAsset" | Set-Content "$installerAsset.sha256"
           "RELEASE_ARCHIVE=$archive" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
+          "RELEASE_EXTRA_ASSET=$installerAsset" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
+          "RELEASE_EXTRA_CHECKSUM=$installerAsset.sha256" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
       - name: Package macOS release
         if: runner.os == 'macOS'
         shell: bash
         run: |
           architecture="$(uname -m)"
           archive="setuav-studio-${GITHUB_REF_NAME}-macos-${architecture}.app.zip"
+          disk_image="setuav-studio-${GITHUB_REF_NAME}-macos-${architecture}.dmg"
           ditto -c -k --sequesterRsrc --keepParent "dist/Setuav Studio.app" "${archive}"
+          hdiutil create \
+            -volname "Setuav Studio" \
+            -srcfolder "dist/Setuav Studio.app" \
+            -ov \
+            -format UDZO \
+            "${disk_image}"
           shasum -a 256 "${archive}" > "${archive}.sha256"
+          shasum -a 256 "${disk_image}" > "${disk_image}.sha256"
           echo "RELEASE_ARCHIVE=${archive}" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"
+          echo "RELEASE_EXTRA_ASSET=${disk_image}" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"
+          echo "RELEASE_EXTRA_CHECKSUM=${disk_image}.sha256" >> "${GITHUB_ENV}"
       - name: Upload release assets
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         shell: bash
         run: |
-          gh release upload "${GITHUB_REF_NAME}" \
-            "${RELEASE_ARCHIVE}" \
-            "${RELEASE_ARCHIVE}.sha256" \
-            --clobber
+          assets=("${RELEASE_ARCHIVE}" "${RELEASE_ARCHIVE}.sha256")
+          if [[ -n "${RELEASE_EXTRA_ASSET:-}" ]]; then
+            assets+=("${RELEASE_EXTRA_ASSET}" "${RELEASE_EXTRA_CHECKSUM}")
+          fi
+          gh release upload "${GITHUB_REF_NAME}" "${assets[@]}" --clobber
 
   package:
     name: Build Python packages
diff --git a/packaging/AppRun b/packaging/AppRun
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ffad9db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packaging/AppRun
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -e
+
+app_dir="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")"
+exec "$app_dir/usr/lib/setuav-studio/setuav-studio" "$@"
diff --git a/packaging/installer.nsi b/packaging/installer.nsi
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94abeee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packaging/installer.nsi
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+; Setuav Studio Windows installer.
+; Built by the release workflow with NSIS 3.x.
+
+Unicode true
+SetCompressor /SOLID lzma
+
+!define APP_NAME "Setuav Studio"
+!ifndef APP_VERSION
+  !define APP_VERSION "0.1.0"
+!endif
+!define APP_EXE "setuav-studio.exe"
+!define SOURCE_DIR "..\dist\setuav-studio"
+!define REG_UNINSTALL "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\${APP_NAME}"
+
+!include "MUI2.nsh"
+
+!if /FileExists "..\src\setuav_studio\assets\icons\studio.ico"
+  !define MUI_ICON "..\src\setuav_studio\assets\icons\studio.ico"
+  !define MUI_UNICON "..\src\setuav_studio\assets\icons\studio.ico"
+!endif
+
+!define MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN "$INSTDIR\${APP_EXE}"
+!define MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN_TEXT "Launch ${APP_NAME}"
+
+!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_WELCOME
+!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_DIRECTORY
+!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_INSTFILES
+!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_FINISH
+!insertmacro MUI_UNPAGE_CONFIRM
+!insertmacro MUI_UNPAGE_INSTFILES
+!insertmacro MUI_LANGUAGE "English"
+
+Name "${APP_NAME} ${APP_VERSION}"
+OutFile "..\dist\setuav-studio-Setup-${APP_VERSION}.exe"
+InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES64\Setuav Studio"
+InstallDirRegKey HKLM "Software\${APP_NAME}" "Install_Dir"
+RequestExecutionLevel admin
+ShowInstDetails show
+ShowUnInstDetails show
+
+Section "Setuav Studio" SecMain
+  SectionIn RO
+  SetOutPath "$INSTDIR"
+  File /r "${SOURCE_DIR}\*"
+
+  WriteUninstaller "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
+  WriteRegStr HKLM "Software\${APP_NAME}" "Install_Dir" "$INSTDIR"
+  WriteRegStr HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}" "DisplayName" "${APP_NAME}"
+  WriteRegStr HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}" "UninstallString" '"$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"'
+  WriteRegStr HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}" "DisplayVersion" "${APP_VERSION}"
+  WriteRegStr HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}" "Publisher" "Setuav"
+  WriteRegStr HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}" "InstallLocation" "$INSTDIR"
+  WriteRegDWORD HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}" "NoModify" 1
+  WriteRegDWORD HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}" "NoRepair" 1
+SectionEnd
+
+Section "Start Menu shortcuts" SecStartMenu
+  CreateDirectory "$SMPROGRAMS\${APP_NAME}"
+  CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\${APP_NAME}\${APP_NAME}.lnk" "$INSTDIR\${APP_EXE}"
+  CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\${APP_NAME}\Uninstall.lnk" "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
+SectionEnd
+
+Section "Uninstall"
+  Delete "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
+  RMDir /r "$INSTDIR"
+  Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\${APP_NAME}\${APP_NAME}.lnk"
+  Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\${APP_NAME}\Uninstall.lnk"
+  RMDir "$SMPROGRAMS\${APP_NAME}"
+  DeleteRegKey HKLM "${REG_UNINSTALL}"
+  DeleteRegKey HKLM "Software\${APP_NAME}"
+SectionEnd
diff --git a/packaging/setuav.desktop b/packaging/setuav.desktop
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36f4a27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packaging/setuav.desktop
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=Setuav Studio
+Comment=Plugin-based UAV design and analysis studio
+Exec=setuav-studio
+Icon=setuav-studio
+Terminal=false
+Type=Application
+Categories=Science;Engineering;
+StartupNotify=true
diff --git a/scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py b/scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py
index ec40af5..a79c0c9 100644
--- a/scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py
+++ b/scripts/desktop_startup_smoke_test.py
@@ -11,11 +11,17 @@
 
 PROJECT_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 TEST_PROJECT = PROJECT_ROOT / "tests" / "fixtures" / "fixed-wing" / "project.json"
+SMOKE_TEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = int(os.environ.get("SETUAV_DESKTOP_SMOKE_TIMEOUT", "60"))
 
 
 def _parse_arguments() -> argparse.Namespace:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
     parser.add_argument("bundle", type=Path, help="PyInstaller desktop bundle")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--skip-aero-3d",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="skip the native AeroSandbox/PyVista smoke test",
+    )
     return parser.parse_args()
 
 
@@ -32,7 +38,7 @@ def _run_command(executable: Path, arguments: list[str], environment: dict[str,
         check=False,
         capture_output=True,
         text=True,
-        timeout=60,
+        timeout=SMOKE_TEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
         env=environment,
     )
     if result.returncode != 0:
@@ -86,17 +92,21 @@ def main() -> int:
             }
         )
         _run_command(executable, ["--smoke-test"], environment)
-        viewer_payload = _viewer_payload_path()
-        try:
-            _run_command(
-                executable,
-                ["--smoke-test-aero-3d", str(viewer_payload)],
-                environment,
-            )
-        finally:
-            viewer_payload.unlink(missing_ok=True)
-
-    print(f"Desktop startup and VLM viewer smoke tests passed: {executable}")
+        if not arguments.skip_aero_3d:
+            viewer_payload = _viewer_payload_path()
+            try:
+                _run_command(
+                    executable,
+                    ["--smoke-test-aero-3d", str(viewer_payload)],
+                    environment,
+                )
+            finally:
+                viewer_payload.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+    if arguments.skip_aero_3d:
+        print(f"Desktop startup smoke test passed (AeroSandbox 3D skipped): {executable}")
+    else:
+        print(f"Desktop startup and VLM viewer smoke tests passed: {executable}")
     return 0