Best Package Managers for Windows

Package Managers is a tool used to install and update software easily in Windows. There are different tools that we need to use daily while working as software engineers. A package manager is used to install, update, manage, and uninstall software and applications. It simplifies the process, saves time, and ensures consistency. It operates through a command-line interface (CLI) which allows us to execute tasks like installing or updating software with a single command. It handles everything in the background, including dependencies. It improves security by preventing malicious software from downloading and installing all applications from official and trustworthy sources.

What is a Package Manager?

A package manager is a tool that makes the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software very easy. We use this package manager to install pre-configured software packages and dependencies from centralized repositories which makes software management very easy.

Advantages of Package Managers

We can use package managers in Windows to install different applications very easily using only the command prompt and Powershell. We can use software with just one command or click. It saves a lot of time because in manual installation we have to search for any particular application. We can install multiple programs at once. It keeps our software up-to-date without manually doing this. Package managers provide flexibility to developers because they can install any tools, framework, and libraries with a single command.

Best Package Managers for Windows

The following are some of the best package managers for Windows:

• Chocolatey
• Winget (Windows Package Manager)
• Scoop
• Ninite
• Yarn
• npm (Node Package Manager)
• pip (Package Installer for Python)

1. Chocolatey

This is one of the most popular package managers used in Windows. This package manager is used for installing and updating different applications. We can easily install and update different apps such as Google Chrome, Visual Studio Code, Node.js, and more. We can easily install multiple apps at once using this instead of installing each application one by one. It uses batch installation methods to install multiple apps at once.

Features of Chocolatey

• It works with the Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell.
• It can support more than 9000 packages. Some examples include Node.js, Git, Python, etc.
• Developers and system administrators for software management use this package manager.

The Command example for Chocolatey:

choco install git

2. Winget (Windows Package Manager)

This software comes preinstalled in the Windows operating system. This is an official package manager for Windows owned by Microsoft. This package manager is used to install software directly from the command line. It comes inbuilt in Windows so we do not have to install any third-party apps.

Features of Winget

• It is supported by Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• This command is very simple and used to search, install, and manage software.
• It maintains a repository of popular applications.

The Command example for Winget:

winget install VisualStudioCode

3. Scoop

Scoop is used to install apps into a single directory to keep them organized. This package manager simplifies the process of installing and managing software. It mainly focuses on removing common issues such as admin rights issues and software clutter, which makes it a great choice for developers.

Features of Scoop

• Scoop installs everything under a single user directory, which means it doesn't need admin privileges.
• It is used to install developer tools such as Node.js, Python, or Git without admin rights.
• It installs everything without showing any annoying pop-ups or extra prompts.

How to install Scoop?

To install Scoop, we run the following command in Powershell:

iwr -useb get.scoop.sh | iex

Some Command examples using Scoop:

For searching for a Package:

scoop search

For installing a Package:

scoop install

For updating a Package:

scoop update

4. Ninite

It is known for its bulk installation of multiple applications with a single installer. It can update previously installed apps by running the same installer. It ensures the latest version installation directly from official sources. It is great for setting up multiple apps in one go. This package comes with both free and pro versions; free versions are available for everyone, and the pro version is available for businesses.

Features of Ninite

• It is used for managing installations on multiple systems remotely.
• It is used for installing applications such as Chrome, Spotify, Zoom, Java, and Visual Studio Code.
• It is used for setting up a new computer that saves hours by installing all essential software in one go.

How to install Ninite?

Go to Ninite, select apps, and download the custom installer.

5. Yarn

Yarn is a popular package manager for JavaScript that is used by developers to manage and share code efficiently. It was developed by Facebook to overcome the limitations of some popular package managers such as npm (Node Package Manager). It is known for its fast speed as it uses caching to make the installation process faster than traditional package managers.

Features of Yarn

• It ensures that we get the same setup every time by resolving dependencies in a predictable way.
• It is fully compatible with the npm ecosystem.
• It uses a feature called Plug'n'Play that eliminates the need for the bulky node_modules folder.

How to install Yarn?

If we already have npm installed, we can install Yarn globally using the following command:

npm install -g yarn

We can also install Yarn using Chocolatey system package managers.

6. npm (Node Package Manager)

The npm (Node Package Manager) is the default package manager for Node.js. It is used for managing JavaScript dependencies in web development projects. We can install different tools, libraries, and frameworks used for web development.

Key Features of npm

• It hosts a massive library of JavaScript packages.
• It keeps track of dependencies in package.json and allows version-specific installations.
• It is used to manage front-end libraries such as React, Vue, or Angular.

How to install npm?

We can install it from the Node.js official website.

We can verify the installation by running the following command:

npm -v

Some Command examples using npm:

To create a new project:

npm init

To install a package locally:

npm install <package-name>

To update all packages:

npm update

To remove a package:

npm uninstall <package-name>

7. pip (Package Installer for Python)

The pip (Package Installer for Python) is the default package manager for Python. It is used to install and manage Python libraries and frameworks. It is used for installing a wide variety of Python libraries for web development, data science, and machine learning. It is used for managing project dependencies for Python applications.

Features of pip

• It is used to install, upgrade, or remove Python libraries easily.
• It works on all major operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How to install pip?

If we previously installed Python, then it comes pre-installed with Python. We can check its version by running the following command:

pip --version

Some command examples using pip:

To install a package:

pip install <package-name>

To upgrade a package:

pip install --upgrade <package-name>

To uninstall a package:

pip uninstall <package-name>

To list installed packages:

pip list