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7 ways package managers make your life easier on Windows 11
Traditionally, managing software on Windows OS has been a manual process. First, you have to download an installer, then click through the installer wizard, wait for it to completely install the program without interruption, and repeat the process for each app you want to install. The whole process is time-consuming, especially when you are building a PC from scratch. That's where package managers like Winget and Chocolatey come into play.
These tools make app installation, updates, and uninstallation effortless on Windows. You'll find all the popular and even unpopular apps on these platforms, keeping you away from the hassle of searching and installing the apps manually. Let's explore how package managers make your life easier on Windows 11.
One-command installation
Install apps effortlessly with a single-line command
Package managers come with the ability to install apps with a single-line command. You don't need to browse different websites and download separate installers to install your apps. Just use a command on the command-line tools like Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell, and that's it.
For example, if you want to install the VLC Media Player on your system, instead of searching for its website and downloading and running its installer, you can simply use the command: choco installvlc.install (if you have the Chocolatey package manager on your system). The command will initiate the installation of the latest version of the VLC Media Player and complete the process within seconds without downloading any installer. This is really helpful if you struggle to find the right installation page for your apps and also eliminates the danger of installing a malicious app.
If you are a tester or someone who frequently installs and uninstalls apps, package managers can boost your productivity.
Batch installation for a new PC setup
Set up all your essential apps in minutes
It's always exciting to manually build a PC with the components of your choice; however, it can be too tedious to install all the basic apps individually. This becomes even more hectic when you have to manually search for the apps, download their installers, run each of them one by one, and wait for them to get installed.
With package managers, this task can be completed in a breeze. Every popular package manager allows you to create a single script to install multiple apps simultaneously. Apart from scripts, you can also install multiple programs using a single-line command. For example, using Chocolatey, you can install Firefox, VS Code, Git, and 7-Zip all at once without any manual intervention through this command: choco install firefox vscode git 7zip -y
You can also create a batch script that contains all the essential software you need. Save it as install_apps.bat, and run it whenever you set up a new system, ensuring a hassle-free and convenient experience.
Batch update
Keep all your apps up to date without effort
Traditionally, to update an app on Windows, you need to manually check for it through its settings or, in some cases, download and run the latest installer. You have to perform these steps manually for every app you want to update. However, with the package manager, you can update all your apps with a single-line command. You can also update an individual app or group of apps without actually opening the app or downloading the latest installer.
Further, you can update all and exclude a few apps from getting updated. There is also the command to update an app to a particular version. Let me give you a few example commands of the Chocolatey package manager:
- choco upgrade all: Update all the apps
- choco upgrade all --except=" 'vlc, git'": Update all apps except VLC Media Player and Git
- choco upgrade nodejs.install --version 1.10.35: Update NodeJS to version 1.10.35
You can also automate the "update all" process by using a task scheduler program such as Windows Task Scheduler. This will ensure that all your apps are updated automatically from time to time.
Easier uninstallation
Eradicate applications, including leftover files
Like installations, package managers also make the uninstallation pretty easy on Windows 11. Instead of going through Windows App settings or Control Panel to search for and then uninstall apps, you can simply do that using a single-line command. For Chocolatey, that command is choco uninstall . For example, if you have to uninstall VLC Media Player, the command for it is: choco uninstall vlc.install.
Unlike the Windows uninstaller, package managers like Chocolatey ensure that apps are uninstalled cleanly without any residual leftovers. You can uninstall multiple apps at once by simply naming them in the command. For example, choco uninstall vlc.install Firefox Skype. This command will initiate the uninstallation of VLC Media Player, Firefox browser, and Skype.
Avoiding unwanted programs
No more bloatware, ads, or unnecessary bundled software
When installing a program, you often encounter installers that come with added programs or add-ons that you don't require. Many times, you might miss unchecking these programs, and they get installed on your system. This bloats your system with unwanted programs that unnecessarily take up your valuable hard disk space and hog system resources.
Package managers eliminate this issue by installing software directly from verified sources instead of downloading it from random websites. They pull applications from trusted repositories, eliminating any chance of unnecessary installation. This is particularly useful for applications notorious for bundling with unwanted extras, like Java installers or free media players. With a package manager, you install only what you need and nothing more.
Consistent and verified sources
Reduce security risks with trustworthy downloads
When searching for apps on the internet, there's always a risk of landing on a phishing webpage and downloading and installing malicious apps instead of legitimate ones. There's also a risk of downloading incorrect apps, especially when you are downloading them from third-party sources. Package managers eliminate all such risks by pulling software from official or verified sources. This ensures that you are always installing the original version of the app and not the malware-infected one.
Package managers also thoroughly check apps before installing them. For example, every app on Chocolatey undergoes three tests: Validation Testing, Verification Testing, and Scan Testing. An app is installed only if it passes these tests.
With security threats like malware-laced installers becoming more common, a package manager provides an extra layer of safety and peace of mind.
Less storage wastage
Optimize storage by managing dependencies efficiently
Many programs share common dependencies, such as libraries or frameworks. Package managers handle these dependencies intelligently, ensuring they're installed only once and shared across multiple programs. This reduces storage wastage and keeps your system clean.
For example, let's say you install Visual Studio Code and Paint.NET, both of which require the .NET Framework. Instead of downloading and installing the .NET Framework twice, the package manager will install it once and link it to both programs. This not only saves storage space but also reduces the time and effort required for installations.
Apart from that, since package managers directly install programs from the official repositories without requiring an additional installer, you save a lot of space that gets accumulated by different installers. Yes, these installers can be deleted, but many of us just forget about them after the program is installed.
Additionally, as discussed, a package manager uninstalls a program cleanly without leaving behind leftovers like app files, registries, temporary files, and other dependencies. This, again, results in less storage wastage.
Simplify app management on Windows 11 with package managers
Package managers are literally a boon for professionals and individuals who have to deal with installing and uninstalling apps on multiple devices. They are also pretty helpful for users who care highly about the security of their devices and don't like to download their software from unknown sources. They simplify software management on Windows devices by making app installation and uninstallation super quick, secure, clean, and more efficient. If you aren't using them yet, you definitely miss a hassle-free experience managing your applications on your system.
