.NET Rocks! Package Management in 2026 with Gary Ewan Park
8 snips
Dec 11, 2025 Gary Ewan Park, a developer and package-management expert at Chocolatey Software, dives deep into the evolving landscape of package management in Windows. He highlights the rise of open-source tools like Chocolatey, Winget, and Scoop, and discusses their roles and features. Security is a major concern as he addresses supply chain attacks and the importance of using vetted repositories. Gary also shares insights on automation in CI/CD processes and the challenges of supporting ARM architectures, all while keeping the community's needs in focus.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Windows Has A Diverse Package Ecosystem
- Windows now has multiple viable package managers like Chocolatey, Winget, Scoop and .NET tools, so choice matters.
- Gary Ewan Park says pick the tool that fits your workflow and automation needs instead of seeking one universal solution.
Automate VM Provisioning With Chocolatey
- Automate VM and CI setup by scripting installs with Chocolatey to ensure repeatable environments.
- Use Chocolatey in ARM templates, Packer or GitHub Actions to provision identical build and test agents.
Handle GUI-Only Installers With Automation
- For GUI-only installers, script UI automation (AutoHotKey/AutoIt) to enable unattended installs.
- Keep verifier tests and moderation to detect when UI scripts break due to installer changes.