winapps-org / winapps-org/winapps
Other applications menu doesn't show all applications
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Description
Not to be confused with #397, this is a separate issue.
I have a Docker Windows 11 VM setup, and currently the apps list looks like this when going on the Settings app:
However, WinApps setup lists these:
Some apps are missing, most importantly for me Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo and PyCharm. To note, I installed the Affinity programs using their default installer and PyCharm using JetBrains Toolbox. I looked a bit in the code and in ExtractPrograms.ps1 it seems it searches a path in the Registry which doesn't contain all installed apps (HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\).
The Uninstall folder also under CurrentVersion includes more apps and most have an entry called InstallLocation, but some leave it empty:
Also, the only way I found to get a list that includes PyCharm is using the Get-Package cmdlet, but I couldn't find a way to get an install path from the output:
PS C:\Users\Anna> Get-Package
Name Version Source ProviderName
---- ------- ------ ------------
Mozilla Firefox (x64 en-CA) 134.0.2 Programs
Mozilla Maintenance Service 134.0.2 Programs
Office 16 Click-to-Run Exte... 16.0.18429.20044 msi
Office 16 Click-to-Run Lice... 16.0.18429.20132 msi
Microsoft 365 - en-us 16.0.18429.20132 Programs
Affinity Photo 2 2.5.6.2887 msi
Affinity Designer 2 2.5.6.2887 msi
PyCharm Professional 2024.3.2 Programs
JetBrains Toolbox 2.5.2.35332 Programs
Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.155.85 Programs
Microsoft Edge WebView2 Run... 100.0.1185.36 Programs
Microsoft OneDrive 23.038.0219.0001 Programs
PS C:\Users\Anna>
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with ExtractPrograms.ps1 and its lookup of HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths. Compare that source with the Uninstall registry entries and the Get-Package output described in the issue, including applications installed through Affinity's default installer and JetBrains Toolbox. Done means the Other applications menu discovers the missing applications without breaking existing entries.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- docker, powershell
- Domain
- desktop, tooling
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100