Question Apps for tracking updates to software installed on your PC

[Texas Kelly]

I've used KC Softwares' SUMo for years to keep track of the software on my machines and know when updates are available for them. Was dismayed to learn today that the entire KC Softwares operation is being sunset at the end of next month. Need recommendations for a replacement tool to continue to inform me of available updates to my software; none I've been able to find on my own have even come close to tracking the number of different applications that SUMo does.

 

[USAFRet]

I've used KC Softwares' SUMo for years to keep track of the software on my machines and know when updates are available for them. Was dismayed to learn today that the entire KC Softwares operation is being sunset at the end of next month. Need recommendations for a replacement tool to continue to inform me of available updates to my software; none I've been able to find on my own have even come close to tracking the number of different applications that SUMo does.

Why do you need a 3rd party tool to tell you what each application already does by itself?

In 40 years of PC use, I've never ever needed a 3rd party tool like this.

 

[Texas Kelly]

You don't see the value in using one piece of software to know which of your programs need to be updated rather than checking (in my case) over 100+ programs individually?

 

[USAFRet]

You don't see the value in using one piece of software to know which of your programs need to be updated rather than checking (in my case) over 100+ programs individually?

No, I don't.

I'd prefer each application to do that itself, rather than some other thing telling me what it thinks. (or what its advertisers think)


I don't "check".
When/if something needs to be updated, it will tell me.

 

[Grobe]

This is frankly an OS issue. The cause of this "problem" is how third party software is installed on the OS. For Microsoft Windows, that is downloading a installer.exe file manually from some location, and then execute that file locally. This make it inherently difficult (i.e. labor intensively) to keep track of any installed software that happens to have an update that require the user to go online and manually download a new installer.exe file (some programs are indeed capable to self-update or notify the user of updates upon start in Windows, but not all).

I won't say that using another OS altogether will solve the issue for you and your use-case, but using Linux as a daily driver i surely use less time to update software packages because the OS/distro package manager normally take care of that.

 

[USAFRet]

This is frankly an OS issue. The cause of this "problem" is how third party software is installed on the OS. For Microsoft Windows, that is downloading a installer.exe file manually from some location, and then execute that file locally. This make it inherently difficult (i.e. labor intensively) to keep track of any installed software that happens to have an update that require the user to go online and manually download a new installer.exe file (some programs are indeed capable to self-update or notify the user of updates upon start in Windows, but not all).

I won't say that using another OS altogether will solve the issue for you and your use-case, but using Linux as a daily driver i surely use less time to update software packages because the OS/distro package manager normally take care of that.

As close as I can figure, I've spent no more than a couple of hours total all year, in manually updating software on my Win 10 and 11 systems.
Most things prompt and do it themselves when I give permission.

Software I need to do manually:
VirtualBox is wanting me to d/l the newest version, but its not critical that I do. And it provides the direct link. I don't have to go looking for it.

Others, its just a click or two.

 

[hotaru.hino]

This is frankly an OS issue. The cause of this "problem" is how third party software is installed on the OS. For Microsoft Windows, that is downloading a installer.exe file manually from some location, and then execute that file locally. This make it inherently difficult (i.e. labor intensively) to keep track of any installed software that happens to have an update that require the user to go online and manually download a new installer.exe file (some programs are indeed capable to self-update or notify the user of updates upon start in Windows, but not all).

I won't say that using another OS altogether will solve the issue for you and your use-case, but using Linux as a daily driver i surely use less time to update software packages because the OS/distro package manager normally take care of that.

And that's what an app store ecosystem is supposed to provide. That's what Microsoft wanted with the Microsoft Store. And this was a feature that nobody really wanted or cared for.

The feature you want would be a nightmare to implement for the way most people install apps on Windows. The first and arguably biggest problem is the way to obtain said apps isn't standard in the manner that makes it friendly for programmers to use. It'd be nice if every app developer uploaded to something similar to awesomeapp.com/download/setup_latest.msi, but they don't. The second problem is that sometimes a person may not want to update, the update may be problematic, or it may be inconvenient to update.

More towards OP though, if the apps you use can be found at https://ninite.com/, just create one and run it every once in a while.

 

[Grobe]

And that's what an app store ecosystem is supposed to provide. That's what Microsoft wanted with the Microsoft Store. And this was a feature that nobody really wanted or cared for.

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.

The second problem is that sometimes a person may not want to update, the update may be problematic, or it may be inconvenient to update.

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).