Hot take: I hate when software just extracts an executable.
Fucking install it so that it’s registered with the software updater and uninstaller. Don’t make me remember that I have to go hunting in the folder to delete this one app.
A portable executable can have neither of those things. It also won’t show up in the start menu app list.
With an installer, it’ll at least show up in the uninstaller, with an install size that I can see when I’m looking to uninstall things, and it’ll at least show up in the app list.
But they could also package it through the app store where you get all that plus centralized update management.
But I’d be happy with just having it show up in the app list and uninstaller.
I know I don’t NEED an uninstaller. I want to use the uninstaller I already have for all my other apps.
Let me have a consistent user experience.
Automatically figure out the right spot for the app resources and set the appropriate file permissions.
Show up in the list of installed applications, so I can sort them by size, if I’m running out of space.
Don’t make me jump through hoops or know the magical directory I need to put it in, in order to have it show up in the start menu or app drawer.
AppImage is absolute chaos. Like, there’s an entire application floating on my desktop and it doesn’t have an icon, doesn’t appear in my list of apps, doesn’t update and has its own copy of libraries that are on my system, but aren’t managed or updated.
It’s even better when I can’t find a program that I thought I had installed. I go on the internet, find the site, and realise it’s appimage. I download the file just to find I already had it, and it was in my downloads directory.
I maintain a small piece of Windows software and originally just provided an installer, but I received enough requests for it that now when I publish releases I provide both an installer and a zipped portable build.
Hot take: I hate when software just extracts an executable.
Fucking install it so that it’s registered with the software updater and uninstaller. Don’t make me remember that I have to go hunting in the folder to delete this one app.
Assuming you are on Windows, the proper install method is to run
Kind of a moot point since most windows programs don’t have a centralized hub for updates either, even when “properly installed” in program files.
Not really moot, no.
A portable executable can have neither of those things. It also won’t show up in the start menu app list.
With an installer, it’ll at least show up in the uninstaller, with an install size that I can see when I’m looking to uninstall things, and it’ll at least show up in the app list.
But they could also package it through the app store where you get all that plus centralized update management.
But I’d be happy with just having it show up in the app list and uninstaller.
I know I don’t NEED an uninstaller. I want to use the uninstaller I already have for all my other apps.
Let me have a consistent user experience.
Automatically figure out the right spot for the app resources and set the appropriate file permissions.
Show up in the list of installed applications, so I can sort them by size, if I’m running out of space.
Don’t make me jump through hoops or know the magical directory I need to put it in, in order to have it show up in the start menu or app drawer.
AppImage is absolute chaos. Like, there’s an entire application floating on my desktop and it doesn’t have an icon, doesn’t appear in my list of apps, doesn’t update and has its own copy of libraries that are on my system, but aren’t managed or updated.
It’s even better when I can’t find a program that I thought I had installed. I go on the internet, find the site, and realise it’s appimage. I download the file just to find I already had it, and it was in my downloads directory.
Just package your program properly FFS.
Some people prefer it.
I maintain a small piece of Windows software and originally just provided an installer, but I received enough requests for it that now when I publish releases I provide both an installer and a zipped portable build.
This is the way!
Having no package manager be like:
Mac Applications