I install all sorts of PortableApps apps in other people's computers. I then update them all the time. I thought about installing the Platform itself and use it's auto-update feature.
But this takes 2 things:
- Have it launched automatically on and off every X days. They don't need the platform on all the time.
- Have it actually act as an auto-update (as opposed to an auto-notifyer). That is, update without asking.
So basically I need it to launch every X days, update whatever needs update, and immediately shut itself off.
Is it not currently possible?
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The Platform is designed to be used as a single system, so we have no plans to have it be called from a 3rd party product.
I am curious what's missing from the Menu that keeps you from just using that full time.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
This is exactly the kind of thought that brought me to PortableApps in the first place. Like you, I don't like the philosophy of making someone run something all the time just so it'll be used occasionally.
With that said, it's also a problem for me that it's auto-notify and not auto-update. I can't rely on other people to click "yes" on that screen.
We'll be offering a mandatory update feature in conjunction with OEM/corporate partners.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Anyway, I also suggest a command line for updates only.
We have a program where OEMs can co-brand the platform and add some extras in exchange for a small licensing fee. One feature is requiring updates. It's not terribly popular, mainly because we don't advertise it, yet. It was created a couple years ago as another way to have some freemium features to fund development, since PortableApps.com has operated at a loss for 5+ years now.
We have no plans to make command line updates available for use by third party software or bundlers. I'm not in the business of working for (less than) free to help other folks make money by reselling my work.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Sometimes an update can break functionality or be buggy.
Large downloads are not trivial on slower connections.
There can be many reasons why a mandatory update is not attractive to everyone, and so forcing that upon other users is simply not a good idea.
You would really need to enforce a backup routine also in the event it screws something up, and that is just getting tedious.
If at first you do not succeed, use more sticky tape.
Moreover, there could be "click here to postpone" with a countdown.