5 ms·

Why hasn't Microsoft created a system service for this? It's just inefficient to have each and every installed app run a service… I suppose they take care of i

Why hasn't Microsoft created a system service for this? It's just inefficient to have each and every installed app run a service… I suppose they take care of it for Windows Store apps, but I don't see why they couldn't make a service for other apps too. Same on the Mac, of course.

ape4 5y ago
There should be something like /etc/cron.daily in windows. The jobs run sequentially so don't overload bandwidth and other resource (hopefully).
- WorldMaker 5y ago
  Windows Task Scheduler It's still a nasty old MMC snap-in in Windows 11 from its legacy as an old, classic NT component for advanced admins only. Maybe one day it will get a bit more love and UI polish. (Though it's not like cron has ever had a good UI.)
GeckoEidechse 5y ago
Windows Store?
ZetaZero 5y ago
Microsoft's solution would be terrible for 3rd party vendors.
ajsnigrutin 5y ago
Yep... just standardize a data format for updates (eg. json with the newest stable and beta version numbers and links directly to the upgrade exe), and each app would just add the json url to the service, and the service would check all the updatable software periodically and just primpt the user to update.
5e92cb50239222b 5y ago
They promised a proper package manager and repositories way back in the day before Windows 8 was released. You probably know the crap you got instead.
- sumtechguy 5y ago
  winget They have sort of started to do it. But it seems to be very adhoc in how it is supported. A couple of packages I use are 2-3 versions behind in that system.
DrBazza 5y ago
That just instantly makes me think 'what are the attack surfaces, and vulnerabilities of such a service and how can I abuse it?'
542458 5y ago
Both vendors want you to use their preferred “store” system instead, unfortunately.
0134340 5y ago
They do with Windows Store. Anyone remember when Firefox was actually available in the Windows Store as either an alpha or beta with Windows 8? I still wish this were so because my most used apps I use the store versions.
- WorldMaker 5y ago
  The "de-siloing" of some of the Microsoft Store in Windows 11 is currently in beta for Windows 10 (and partly for Windows 7) allows a lot more app distribution schemes into the store (including "give us the URL for your existing EXE/MSI Installer and we can even check it for updates") and I hope that will bring more apps back to the Store. I also would love to standardize on just a single update agent with an easy to manage GUI versus the bad old XP days of every app under the sun thinking it needs a Windows Service just to annoy you with update prompts.
wvenable 5y ago
I assume they're going to use the Task Scheduler like Google, Dropbox, Microsoft, etc, etc use for updates.

ape4 5y ago

There should be something like /etc/cron.daily in windows. The jobs run sequentially so don't overload bandwidth and other resource (hopefully).

WorldMaker 5y ago
Windows Task Scheduler It's still a nasty old MMC snap-in in Windows 11 from its legacy as an old, classic NT component for advanced admins only. Maybe one day it will get a bit more love and UI polish. (Though it's not like cron has ever had a good UI.)

GeckoEidechse 5y ago

Windows Store?

ZetaZero 5y ago

Microsoft's solution would be terrible for 3rd party vendors.

ajsnigrutin 5y ago

Yep... just standardize a data format for updates (eg. json with the newest stable and beta version numbers and links directly to the upgrade exe), and each app would just add the json url to the service, and the service would check all the updatable software periodically and just primpt the user to update.

5e92cb50239222b 5y ago

They promised a proper package manager and repositories way back in the day before Windows 8 was released. You probably know the crap you got instead.

sumtechguy 5y ago
winget They have sort of started to do it. But it seems to be very adhoc in how it is supported. A couple of packages I use are 2-3 versions behind in that system.

DrBazza 5y ago

That just instantly makes me think 'what are the attack surfaces, and vulnerabilities of such a service and how can I abuse it?'

542458 5y ago

Both vendors want you to use their preferred “store” system instead, unfortunately.

0134340 5y ago

They do with Windows Store. Anyone remember when Firefox was actually available in the Windows Store as either an alpha or beta with Windows 8? I still wish this were so because my most used apps I use the store versions.

WorldMaker 5y ago
The "de-siloing" of some of the Microsoft Store in Windows 11 is currently in beta for Windows 10 (and partly for Windows 7) allows a lot more app distribution schemes into the store (including "give us the URL for your existing EXE/MSI Installer and we can even check it for updates") and I hope that will bring more apps back to the Store. I also would love to standardize on just a single update agent with an easy to manage GUI versus the bad old XP days of every app under the sun thinking it needs a Windows Service just to annoy you with update prompts.

wvenable 5y ago

I assume they're going to use the Task Scheduler like Google, Dropbox, Microsoft, etc, etc use for updates.