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squirrel avatar

squirrel/squirrel.windows

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Squirrel.windows

Squirrel.Windows is a framework for installing and updating Windows desktop applications via HTTP. It functions as an application installer, background software updater, and distribution system that operates without the use of traditional installation wizards.

The framework uses NuGet packages to distribute software and reduce download sizes through delta updates. It manages software releases by organizing updates into distinct HTTP channels to control how different user groups receive new versions.

The system handles deployment through user-mode directory installation to avoid administrative prompts and system reboots. It manages the software lifecycle using atomic update swapping, where new versions are prepared in temporary folders before being applied silently in the background.

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Features

  • Desktop Application Installers - Provides a framework for packaging and distributing desktop software specifically for Windows machines.
  • Automatic Software Updates - Automatically detects and applies the latest software versions to local installations without manual intervention.
  • User-Level Installers - Deploys application files to user-writable directories to bypass administrative prompts and installation wizards.
  • Release Channel Management - Enables the organization of software updates into distinct HTTP channels for controlled release stages.
  • Release Channel Managers - Manages different software update streams through HTTP channels to control versioning for user groups.
  • Binary Delta Generators - Calculates byte-level differences between software releases to create delta update packages that reduce download sizes.
  • Windows Installers - Deploys desktop software to Windows machines without traditional installation wizards or system reboots.
  • NuGet-Based Distributions - Uses the NuGet package format for consistent versioning and delivery of application binaries over HTTP.
  • User-Mode Installations - Installs software into the local app data folder to bypass the need for elevated system permissions.
  • Update Channels - Provides the ability to organize updates into distinct HTTP channels to control how different user groups receive new versions.
  • Background Update Execution - Provides a silent mechanism for applying new software versions in the background.
  • Application Update Managers - Applies software updates silently in the background to prevent user interruptions and avoid system restarts.
  • Atomic Installation Swaps - Implements atomic update swapping by preparing new versions in temporary folders before replacing the active installation.
  • Installation Tools - Manages installation and updates for desktop apps.
7,989 stars·1,048 forks·C++·MIT·48 views

Star history

Star history chart for squirrel/squirrel.windowsStar history chart for squirrel/squirrel.windows

How this analysis was created: This summary and feature list are AI-generated from collected project material and can contain mistakes. Stars, license and language are imported from GitHub. Inclusion does not mean that we have tested or audited this project. Check the source documentation for any feature you depend on. Learn more on our About page.

Frequently asked questions

What does squirrel/squirrel.windows do?

Squirrel.Windows is a framework for installing and updating Windows desktop applications via HTTP. It functions as an application installer, background software updater, and distribution system that operates without the use of traditional installation wizards.

What are the main features of squirrel/squirrel.windows?

The main features of squirrel/squirrel.windows are: Desktop Application Installers, Automatic Software Updates, User-Level Installers, Release Channel Management, Release Channel Managers, Binary Delta Generators, Windows Installers, NuGet-Based Distributions.

Which projects share features with squirrel/squirrel.windows?

Projects with overlapping indexed features include: blackboardsh/electrobun — Electrobun is a desktop application framework and webview-based GUI toolkit used for building cross-platform desktop… chocolatey/choco — Chocolatey is a Windows package manager and command-line software automator. It serves as a system configuration tool… rust-lang/rustup — rustup is a programming language toolchain manager that automates the installation, versioning, and configuration of… pollen-robotics/microduck — Microduck is the software stack for a tiny two-legged, duck-shaped robot. It runs as a set of onboard background… beekeeper-studio/beekeeper-studio — Beekeeper Studio is a cross-platform desktop application designed for database management and SQL development. It… mherrmann/fbs — fbs is a Python desktop application packager and cross-platform application installer. It serves as a utility for…

Projects sharing features with Squirrel.windows

These projects share indexed features with Squirrel.windows. Shared tags can include platform or build tooling; verify the primary use case before treating a result as a replacement.
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    blackboardsh/electrobun

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  • chocolatey/chocochocolatey avatar

    chocolatey/choco

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    Chocolatey is a Windows package manager and command-line software automator. It serves as a system configuration tool designed to automate the installation, upgrading, and removal of software packages on Windows operating systems through a terminal interface. The project utilizes a NuGet-based software distribution model to manage and version applications. This approach replaces manual downloads and interactive installer wizards with scripted, repeatable deployments. The tool covers broad capability areas including automated system provisioning, Windows package deployment, and software manag

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  • rust-lang/rustuprust-lang avatar

    rust-lang/rustup

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    rustup is a programming language toolchain manager that automates the installation, versioning, and configuration of the Rust compiler and its associated build tools. It serves as a toolchain installer and version manager, enabling the deployment of the language ecosystem across different operating systems. The system manages multiple compiler versions across stable, beta, and nightly release channels, allowing users to switch between these versions to meet different environment requirements. It also functions as a cross-compilation manager by installing pre-compiled standard libraries to bui

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  • pollen-robotics/microduckpollen-robotics avatar

    pollen-robotics/microduck

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    Microduck is the software stack for a tiny two-legged, duck-shaped robot. It runs as a set of onboard background services that handle walking, sensing, sound and expressive animations, and it can be driven from a laptop, phone, gamepad or browser console. Walking comes from a trained reinforcement-learning policy, loaded as an ONNX model and evaluated in a fixed-rate control loop that commands every joint servo, with policies that can be swapped live for walking or rolling. What sets it apart is how the robot is controlled and kept safe. Clients send high-level intents such as walking speed o

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