A Life-Saving Package Managers for Windows

Transitioning between operating systems can be a daunting task for developers. Over the years, I’ve journeyed from Windows to macOS and even Ubuntu, each with its quirks and strengths. Now, comfortably settled in the macOS ecosystem for both work and personal use, I was caught off guard recently when I misplaced my Mac and had to rely on a borrowed HP Windows laptop. This temporary setback turned into a learning opportunity, and one of the standout discoveries was Chocolatey, a package manager for Windows that deserves immense praise.

Why Package Managers Matter

Package managers streamline the installation, management, and removal of software. On macOS, we have Homebrew, and on Linux, APT is the go-to solution. These tools make a developer's life easier by automating repetitive tasks and simplifying the software setup process. On Windows, however, the process traditionally involved manually downloading .exe or .msi files from various websites, which is time-consuming and error-prone.

Chocolatey fills this gap as the de facto package manager for Windows. It brings the simplicity and power of macOS’s Homebrew and Linux’s APT to the Windows ecosystem. During my brief stint with a Windows laptop, Chocolatey proved invaluable.

How Chocolatey Helped Me

1. Setting Up Node.js with NVM One of the first tasks I faced was setting up multiple Node.js versions for my project. On macOS, I relied on nvm (Node Version Manager) to switch between versions effortlessly. On Windows, I initially dreaded the manual process of downloading and managing Node.js versions. But Chocolatey made the setup straightforward:
2. Installing Ngrok for Local Development My project required Ngrok to expose a local server for a remote frontend developer. Instead of hunting down the Ngrok installer, I simply ran:

choco install ngrok        

choco install nvm        

As I understand there are many more package managers for Windows out there, and I have hardly scratched the surface here :)

Recommendations

• For developers: Chocolatey, Scoop, or WinGet.
• For casual users: Ninite or WinGet.
• For IT professionals: WAPT or OneGet.

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