Apps for monitoring changes in software on your computer
Apps for monitoring changes in software on your computer
I've relied on KC Softwares' SUMo for years to monitor my software and stay updated on new releases. It was disappointing to discover today that the entire KC Softwares business is closing at month's end. I'm looking for suggestions on a better alternative to keep me informed about available updates; so far, nothing I've tried has matched SUMo's ability to track the variety of applications it supports.
There is no benefit in relying on a single software tool for identifying program updates instead of reviewing each program separately.
No, I don't.
I'd like each application to handle that independently, instead of relying on others to interpret or act on it. (or the opinions of its advertisers)
I don't "check".
When updates are necessary, it will inform me.
This is essentially an operating system problem. The root cause lies in third-party software being installed on the OS. For Microsoft Windows, this involves manually downloading an installer.exe file from a specific location and running it locally. This makes it very challenging (and time-consuming) to monitor any software updates that require users to download new installers manually. While some programs can update themselves or alert users about updates when they start in Windows, not all do.
I won't claim that switching to another operating system will fix the issue for your situation, but using Linux as a daily driver definitely saves time on software updates because the OS/distro package manager handles it automatically.
I've managed to spend no more than a few hours each year updating software on my Win 10 and 11 machines.
Most tasks prompt themselves when I allow them.
The software I need to handle manually includes:
VirtualBox insists on downloading the latest version, though it's not essential for me, and it gives a direct link.
Other programs just require a few clicks.
And that's what an app store ecosystem is meant to deliver. That was the goal Microsoft aimed for with the Microsoft Store. Yet this aspect was something that most users didn't need or prioritize. The ideal setup would be incredibly straightforward, allowing developers to share their apps easily—similar to how awesomeapp.com/download/setup_latest.msi works. However, currently, there isn't a consistent method for app installers, making it difficult for programmers to work with. It would be helpful if every app developer provided a download link just like the one mentioned above. For now, some users rely on third-party tools such as ninite.com/ to manage their apps.
Ok, I guess I've heard of this, but I haven't put any afford into learning this. However if status is "nobody" want it, I must assume there are some practical issues with the way MS tries to implement it.
Indeed, you're correct - the user should absolutely have the choice to not upgrade a specific app. However, if you look at how Linux this is already solutions for this:
Flatpak package system: Each app can be updated with a command, thus user can simply create a script that updates all apps exept one.
Appimage : This is one big executable file that is independent of other installed packages. Many software vendors have this option to download one file that the user can simply run, just create a link from the desktop. I use this myself because I have still projects that works better for me with Inkscape 1.1.2 (version 1.3 is the latest as today).