A Streamlined App Installation Experience
In a move to enhance user convenience, Microsoft has been actively developing a novel approach for installing applications via apps.microsoft.com. This refined process significantly decreases the number of steps needed to get an app up and running on your device.
Part of this innovative experience includes the generation of a standalone installer for each app obtained through the Microsoft web portal. Initially, the transition stirred concerns among some developers who voiced their reservations online. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that a portion of the criticism surfaced prior to a comprehensive explanation of the changes.
Microsoft’s updated web installers have been crafted to refine the app installation journey. With the aim of simplifying this experience, the new mechanism allows for the installation of applications directly from the website, apps.microsoft.com, with a reduced number of clicks. Rudy Huyn, Principal Lead Architect of the Microsoft Store, shed light on the improvements, detailing that they have created an “undocked version of the Store” utilizing the same foundational code but delivered in a more compact executable form. This new setup eliminates the need for deep links and, instead, uses standalone installers to execute the installation process.
Some of the advantages highlighted by Huyn include:
- A mere two clicks to initiate an installation.
- A swift-launching, lightweight installer.
- Ensuring the installer is always up-to-date with the latest features.
- The capability to handle multiple installations concurrently.
According to Huyn, this modification has not only led to a 12% uptick in installations but also a 54% increase in app launches post-installation. The positive feedback has encouraged Microsoft to broaden this experiment across additional markets.
Addressing the Controversy
While many have welcomed the new feature, others have raised questions about the updated installation process. Concerns primarily revolve around the potential impact on user trust, as downloading an executable file (.exe) could be perceived as less secure compared to installing directly from the Microsoft Store. AnxiousBoi, a user from platform X, expressed hesitations about the modification, suggesting that it might erode trust despite reducing the number of clicks.
Huyn responded to such concerns by clarifying that developers retain control over how their badges function in the online store. Only badges configured with a direct launch mode will employ the novel Store installer for the web.
Some users have articulated that the new process feels like a regression, missing the seamless integration of the full Microsoft Store experience. Notably, engineer Rafael Rivera voiced early apprehensions about the changes to web-based app installations, concerned over the appearance of a “.NET executable wrapper” laden with telemetry.
In response to the feedback, Sergio Pedri, a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft, clarified that the new system is not an executable wrapper but a fresh Store installer designed to boost the number of app downloads and installations.