Windows Package Manager (WinGet)

Windows Package Manager or WinGet is the official Microsoft management tool for Windows 10 that allows installing app's components, updating packages, and managing applications' sources.

The Windows Package Manager is an open-source construct and is free to download and use. It consists of a variety of tools and components that can help you retrieve packages or older, specific versions of programs.

When creating complex development ecosystems, sometimes you need to have available, in separately-created environments (or in virtual environments, separated from the general scope), multiple versions of the same utility. Why? Because different versions of the same program could have distinct compatibility traits, configuration methods, and distinct dependencies. WinGet enables quick access to methods that help you configure these environments a lot easier.

Needless to say, the Windows Package Manager needs a Windows OS (the main host or a virtual system) and the .NET Framework (preferably, the latest stable version). You can access the manager's functionalities by installing it (with an executable) or by compiling it (the open-source code). If you choose the latter, dedicated .NET development tools and Visual Studio Code 2019 are mandatory.

However, via the normal installation process, WinGet preview is added to your system in seconds (using the dedicated installer). As a Windows user, you can opt for the Command Prompt or the PowerShell interface. Both command-line tools allow navigating the system and executing different sets of instructions. Any of them allows installing, searching, and updating applications. And every time you try executing WinGet-related commands, use the dedicated keyword winget (e.g. winget install zoom).

All things considered, Windows Package Manager or WinGet is a system helper that can be useful for any user. Not only does it have simple commands, it also offers comprehensive instructions, so you can use it even if you lack knowledge about shell/scripting languages. Just type 'help' and see the available, self-explanatory commands (and their descriptions) — install, show, source, search, hash, validate, settings, and features.