What is a package manager?
A package manager is a piece of software that makes installing, upgrading, and configuring dependencies and third-party software simple. They also offer a sizable selection of applications (or packages) that you may select and install with just one terminal command. These applications can be included in a project or be used independently as third-party applications.
Because you must make sure your system is compatible with third-party software, managing the installation and upgrade of numerous tools inside your project can be rather frustrating. The time you would lose manually maintaining the software dependencies if you integrated and updated each piece of third-party software.
A Windows package manager, similar to yum or apt-get on Linux, can assist you in downloading the most recent software without worrying about viruses or programme compatibility. You can quickly download the applications you require with only one command on PowerShell or the Terminal.
The following list summarises the primary attributes of a package manager for Windows software downloads:
- Finding the correct source files for your platform.
- Making sure software is clear of viruses and other security flaws.
- Setting up your Windows Computer with the necessary software dependencies.
- Enabling smooth programme installation, updating, and uninstallation.
Chocolatey vs. Winget:
Having been around for more than ten years, Windows users frequently use Chocolatey. Winget, on the other hand, has a small customer base, was only introduced in 2020, and is unfamiliar to Windows users.
Despite being somewhat more recent, The Windows Package Manager has a strong argument for being considered as a Chocolatey substitute.
Features
Chocolatey
The three primary products that Chocolatey offers are Chocolatey for Business, Pro Edition, and Open Source.
Enterprises who wish to manage numerous Windows systems with ease and incorporate automated package management into their DevOps workflow can use Chocolatey for Business. Business users can use Chocolatey to automate the lifespan of their Windows applications. Enterprise users have access to these unique business licences, which provide numerous crucial features.
The Open Source version of Chocolatey compiles all of your deployment dependencies into a single compiled file and utilises the largest registry of Windows packages. For typical Windows users who want to automate app management, it is the favoured choice.
If you’re a single user who wants a more deluxe experience, you may upgrade to Chocolatey Pro Edition for extra features like dependability and runtime virus protection.
Depending on the Chocolatey edition you select, you can build new packages, make use of ones that already exist, and integrate Chocolatey with various infrastructure tools.
Winget
Winget, in contrast, is very straightforward. You can download apps from the Windows source, add new packages to the YAML manifest, and customize them as you see fit. Winget is further accessible to independent software sellers and developers.
The open-source version of Chocolatey, like winget, enables you to upgrade apps to the most recent version, download apps from the registry, and configure apps via the command line. Winget is concentrated on making software installation for common users as simple as possible, whereas Chocolatey offers a wider range of functionality to accommodate its diversified customer base.
Which has the best available softwares
Through its Chocolatey Community Package Repository, Chocolatey hosts the largest Windows software registry with over 9,500 community-maintained items. Microsoft Teams, Notepad++, Adobe Reader, and Google Chrome are all readily available with Chocolatey.
Although it doesn’t have as many packages as Chocolatey’s, Microsoft’s Windows Package Manager Community Repository supports commonly used programmes like 7-Zip, Google Chrome, and others.
Both Chocolatey and Winget are widely regarded as stable and dependable package managers in terms of performance and dependability. Yet, given its longer existence and larger community, Chocolatey might have access to more up-to-date packages and greater support for troubleshooting problems.
Ultimately, your particular demands and preferences will determine whether you choose Winget or Chocolatey. Chocolatey might be a better choice for you if you prefer a more established, community-driven package manager with a broader ecosystem of tools and packages. Winget, on the other hand, can be a better option if you want a more integrated and user-friendly experience.
How to Install winget
There are two ways to install winget:
- From the Microsoft Store.
- Manually, using a package installer from GitHub.
The winget client might already be installed on your machine, if you are using Windows 10 1809 or a later version. By using the winget command on the Command Prompt or PowerShell, you can see if winget is available:
- Click the Windows Start button, enter powershell, and then click OK.
2.Run Winget in PowerShell to see if the software is installed:
The command’s invocation in the aforementioned example reports that winget is not recognised, indicating that it has not been installed on the system.
Method 1: Install winget via Microsoft Store
To install Winget from the Microsoft Store, follow these instructions:
- To launch the Microsoft Store app, open the Windows Start menu, type store, and click Enter
- Type “Winget” into the search box and hit Enter. Click the App Installer programmed link in the search results.
- To install the app, click Get on the App Installer page.
- Winget command can be used in Windows PowerShell or the Command Prompt to check the installation
if winget is installed successfully, the command prints the program version, syntax, and available options as shown in the above image
Method 2: Install winget via Git
Downloading the installer from GitHub is a another method of installing winget.
The steps are as follows:
- Navigate to the winget GitHubpage.
- Under the Releases section, click the latest available release.
- On the Versionpage, scroll down to the Assets section and click the .msixbundlefile to start the download.
- Run the downloaded file and click Update:
Hold off until the installation is complete.
Other dependencies that are necessary for winget to function may be installed automatically by the programme.
- Verify the installation by running wingetin PowerShell or Command Prompt.
How to Use winget
You may search for, install, update, and remove packages using the winget client.
This section demonstrates how to use Winget to manage packages.
When you use winget for the first time, a prompt asking if you accept Microsoft’s transaction conditions will show up. This is due to the Microsoft Store repository’s need on your location for proper operation.
Read the conditions, then hit y and press Enter to confirm your agreement.
Install Packages
The syntax to use when installing a package using winget is as follows:
Provide the precise application ID for [package name]. As Notepad++ is available in two repositories, we tell winget to install it in the example below, and winget asks for the app ID.
Winget immediately gets and installs Notepad++ after receiving the precise application ID.
Search for Packages
To find available packages in the Microsoft Store or the public Windows Package Management Community repository, use winget. As for the syntax:
We look for the MySQL server in the example below:
The output is a list of all packages with the keyword “mysql” that are currently available.
Show Package Details
Use the following command to display details about installed package information:
For example:
The output shows the specified app information, including the program version, publisher, author, and program description.
Add Repository
Use the add subcommand to add a third-party repository to winget. As for the syntax:
You should enter the repository’s desired name under [name] and its URL under [url].
Consider this:
We added the official Winget repository in this example.
Update Repositories
The update subcommand can be used to force an update to the current repository. Run:
The command updates the existing repositories with the latest package information.
Remove a Repository
Remove a repository from winget using the remove subcommand. The syntax is:
The specified repository is automatically removed
Reset winget Sources
Use the reset –force subcommand to reset winget back to its original configuration, removing all third-party repositories and setting the sources to the default ones.
For example:
List Packages
See a list of all installed packages using the list option. Run:
The list of installed programmes in the aforementioned example, along with their application ID, version, and any available updates, are included in the result.
Uninstall Packages
Use the uninstall option to remove an application.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice between Winget and Chocolatey will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Both are capable package managers that can make managing software on Windows much easier.
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