Want to deploy & remove Metro Packages from Win32. Can PackageManager API be used from Win32?

Question

I need to deploy & remove Metro Packages from Win32. Can PackageManager API be used from Win32?

Answer 1

Yes, take a look at this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/br240960.aspx#Y0

It should be possible to call these API from desktop apps.

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Raman Sharma | Program Manager, Visual C++ | @rasharm_msft

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Answer 2

Raman,

I'd like to ask for a clarification on this point, as there seems to be much confusion around this topic.

There are clearly documented ways to use the deployment APIs to deploy Metro style applications (from the definition of the class, to the "How to use the Deployment API" section of help which defines how to add/remove/update/inventory/query). 

In each case, the documentation says that these APIs aren't available for use within Metro style applications, and the implication is that developers are free to use them in the Desktop space.

Will Microsoft allow developers to use these APIs to create desktop applications to deploy Metro style applications which do not pass the Windows Store (Application Certificate) requirements?

Thanks in advance!

-Andre

Answer 3

What is MSFT's intended usage for PackageManager?  Is
PackageManager API the mechanism for institutional customers and IT departments
to deploy private apps? What restrictions (if any) exist around the use of this API?

Answer 4

PackageManager does not allow deploying apps which cannot otherwise be used on the system. It should be usable by IT departments to deploy private apps that are enabled on the system, but it isn't itself sufficient to enable such apps.

For discussion on Enterprise deployment of private apps please post in TechNet's Windows 8 IT Pro category. See How to Add and Remove Apps for information on line-of-business Metro style apps.

--Rob