OTHER PACKAGE MANAGERS
WPM isn’t the only package manager for Windows, and that’s officially fine. Its developers at Microsoft say they want it to expand the ecosystem, not to replace existing third-party solutions, and the Microsoft software repository can be freely used by other package manager tools.
But what are those other tools? Without a doubt, the most popular is Chocolatey ( chocolatey.org), a free, independent package manager originally launched back in 2014. Chocolatey has some key advantages over WPM – at least in its current inchoate form – including the ability to update and uninstall packages, and a larger repository of nearly 8,000 software packages, maintained by an army of community volunteers. If you’re interested in seeing what a package manager is capable of, Chocolatey is a good place to start.
Another option is Scoop ( scoop.sh), which supports over 7,000 packages and has the unusual feature of placing applications in your home directory, rather than the standard Windows locations. This is a good idea from a security perspective, and makes it very easy to maintain and remove packages; however, it also means that installed applications don’t appear in your Start menu, making this perhaps a better choice for those who’d really rather be using Linux.
Finally, an honourable mention must go to AppGet ( appget.net), a now-defunct package manager that – the developer claims – served as the inspiration for WPM (read his story at pcpro.link/314appget).
It’s a fair point that, as WPM matures, it’s likely to put the squeeze on other package managers, if only thanks to its Microsoft branding – and the small matter of its being built right into Windows.