Downloadmanager

A Windows batch-based launcher that allows you to install and uninstall applications via winget from a categorized menu. The script is designed to be simple to distribute: just double-click the .bat file, and it handles the rest.

This type of tool can be crucial during deployments to streamline and optimize software installations across multiple systems.

✨ Features

• 📂 Categorized apps menu (Browsers, Games, Tools, Media, Development, etc.).

• 🔢 Automatic numbering of applications — no manual tracking required.

• ✅ Selectable install/uninstall options directly from the console.

• 🎨 Clear and colored menu layout for better readability.

• 🔄 Self-updating mechanism at launch:

  • Checks if a new version of the script is available on GitHub.
  • Compares the local version with the remote version defined inside the script.
  • If different → automatically updates the script and relaunches it.
  • If identical → continues directly to the apps menu.

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⚙️ How It Works

1. Startup & Update Check

   • The script defines its version at the top:

     set "localversion=25.10.0"

   • On launch, it downloads the latest version of itself and "Version.txt" from GitHub to a temporary file.

   • It extracts the remoteVersion variable from the downloaded file.

   • If remoteVersion ≠ localVersion, the script updates itself and restarts.

2. App Menu

   • Applications are grouped into categories (e.g., Browsers, Games, Media).

   • Each app has:

     • A name (for display).
     • An ID (used by winget).
     • A category.

   • Example entry:

     set /a total+=1 & set "app[%total%]=[ ] Chrome" & set "id[%total%]=Google.Chrome" & set "cat[%total%]=Browser"

3. Interaction

   • Type the number of an app to select/deselect it.

   • Use:

     • I → install selected apps.
     • U → uninstall selected apps.
     • Q → quit the launcher.
     • C → Check Update.

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🚀 Usage

1. Download the latest Downloadmanager.bat from the repository.

2. Double-click the batch file.

3. On startup:

   • If a new version exists, the script updates itself and restarts.
   • If not, the app menu is displayed directly.

4. Select apps and choose whether to install or uninstall them.

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🔄 Updating

• The update process is automatic — no manual action is required.

• The script uses its internal version variable for comparison.

• Updates are pulled directly from the GitHub raw file:

  **https://raw.githubusercontent.com/<username>/<repo>/main/launcher.bat**
  

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🛠️ Requirements

• Windows 10 or 11.
• winget package manager installed and available in PATH.
• Internet connection (for both updates and app installation).

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⚠️ Notes

• The script requests administrator rights when necessary for installing/uninstalling apps.
• Apps from the Microsoft Store can also be managed through winget using their Store IDs.
• If the update check fails (e.g., no internet), the script will continue with the local version.

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📌 Example Workflow

1. User runs Downloadmanager.bat.

2. Script checks GitHub for updates:

   • If found → updates itself → relaunches.
   • If not → continues.

3. Menu appears:

   --- Browsers ---
   [ ] 1. Chrome
   [ ] 2. Firefox
   ...
   

4. User selects apps with associate numbers → presses I.

5. winget installs the chosen apps automatically.

6. Confirmation message is shown after completion.

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📄 License

This project is free to use and modify for personal purposes. Contributions and improvements are welcome.

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👨‍💻 Developer Notes

To add new apps to the menu:

. Add the app line with name, winget ID, and category:

set /a total+=1 & set "app[%total%]=[ ] AppName" & set "id[%total%]=Publisher.AppID" & set "cat[%total%]=Category"

3. The menu numbering and categories update automatically.

This ensures the launcher menu always reflects the latest app list without manual renumbering.