Windows Package Manager 1.12.250 Pre-Release
The Windows Package Manager, also known as WinGet, is a comprehensive package management solution that enables users to install applications on their Windows 10 devices (version 1809 or later) through a command-line tool and set of services. This project includes various components, such as a CLI (command-line interface), PowerShell modules, and a COM (component object model) API (application programming interface).
When working with the Windows Package Manager, it's essential to understand two basic terms: "packages" and "manifests". A package represents an application or program that can be installed on the system, while a manifest is a file containing meta-data that provides descriptive elements for a package along with the location of its installer and the installer's SHA256 hash. The Windows Package Manager obtains these manifests from various sources, such as the community repository, enterprise services, or local paths.
The preview build of WinGet allows users to try out upcoming features and fixes before they are officially released. Despite testing and ensuring stability, this version might still have bugs or usability issues. If you encounter any issues, please report them by filing an issue to help improve the tool.
In the latest release (v1.12), several new features have been added, including the availability of MCP servers, which can provide assistance with client configuration using the command winget mcp. Additionally, App Installer now utilizes WinUI 3 and has replaced its dependency on WinUI 2 with Windows App Runtime 1.8.
Furthermore, the manifest schema and validation have been updated to version 1.12. This update introduces new "Font" types for both InstallerType and NestedInstallerType. Other changes include improvements in manifest validation, particularly when using UTF-8 BOM encoding.
Experimental features such as font support have also been introduced. To enable this feature, users can use the winget settings command with a JSON configuration that includes experimental font support. This will allow users to list installed font families and their corresponding font faces.
In terms of bug fixes, the Windows Package Manager has resolved an issue where manifest validation would fail when using UTF-8 BOM encoding if the schema header was on the first line. Moreover, two unrelated version issues have been addressed by adding ARP correlation entries for portable installs and fixing specific version problems.
Notable contributions to this release include fixing several issues that improve the overall stability of the tool, including adding ARP correlation entries for portable installs and resolving two unrelated version issues. These fixes aim to provide a smoother experience for users when working with the Windows Package Manager.
Windows Package Manager 1.12.250-preview
This is a preview build of WinGet for those interested in trying out upcoming features and fixes. While it has had some use and should be free of major issues, it may have bugs or usability problem...
Release Windows Package Manager 1.12.250-preview · microsoft/winget-cli
