microsoft / microsoft/WindowsAppSDK

Make Sideloading easier

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area-PackageManagement feature proposal
Dominant language
C++
Stars
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Forks
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Avg merge
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Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

# Proposal: Make Sideloading easier
Sideloading an app should be as easy, if not easier than installing an app through a regular installer. Users should not have to go through installing a certificate in order to Sideload an app, just like they don't when installing a traditional desktop app.
It makes the Microsoft Store the only consumer-friendly place to host packaged apps, but what if the app breaks Store Regulations or is an older version of the app?

With WinUI3 Desktop apps, it seems ever so important to make this happen as a lot of these apps will likely break Store Regulations.

Why can't we have something as simple as a popup saying "This app is not signed and could be dangerous. Do you wish to proceed?", or un-ideally but better than nothing, something like macOS.

## Rationale

* It allows pretty much any user to Sideload apps, not just the few that know how to install a packaged app's certificate.

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the proposal and the referenced docs/roadmap.md to understand how sideloading fits the Windows App SDK direction. Define the supported consumer installation flow, including how unsigned or externally packaged apps are handled, and document the security and completion criteria before implementation.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
desktop, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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