Scripted Windows App Installation for Consistency

Modern Windows systems offer several ways to install applications—primarily via the graphical Microsoft Store or winget, the Windows Package Manager CLI. For regular updates and one-off installations, these interfaces are typically sufficient.

But what about clean installs? Or setting up multiple machines with a consistent baseline of essential apps?

That’s exactly where install-windows-apps.ps1 comes in.

This minimal PowerShell script isn’t a provisioning framework. Instead, it’s a practical helper for:

  • Bootstrapping a fresh Windows installation quickly
  • Maintaining consistency across multiple devices
  • Avoiding “Did I forget anything?” moments
  • Saving time on repetitive GUI-based installs

Use Case: Initial & Repeatable Setup

This script is best suited for:

  • Fresh installations (e.g., after resetting Windows or replacing hardware)
  • Re-deploying lab or test machines
  • Helping tech-savvy friends or family with setup
  • Developers moving to a new laptop or VM

Its purpose is speed and consistency—install 90% of your stack in minutes, not hours.

Note: This script is not a GUI replacement. It’s a helper to get you to that point faster.

Structure and Simplicity

The script relies on simple, readable Install-App calls:

Install-App "Mozilla.Firefox"
Install-App "Notepad++.Notepad++"

It can also install Microsoft Store apps and VS Code extensions if required. No need to learn a DSL, install third-party tooling, or debug YAML. It’s pure PowerShell and winget.

You can comment, extend, or remove lines easily to customize your own install baseline.

Example: Bootstrap Flow After Reinstall

  1. Install Windows
  2. Enable PowerShell script execution (Set-ExecutionPolicy)
  3. Clone your dotfiles or config repository
  4. Customize install-windows-apps.ps1 as needed
  5. Run the script
  6. Done — your system is ready to use

Use Chocolatey to automate application installations on a Windows DevOps machine
https://github.com/filipnet/install-windows-apps
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Final Thoughts

This script reflects a pragmatic mindset: tools should save time, not add complexity. If you frequently reinstall machines, help others with setup, or simply want to maintain a personal software standard, this lightweight approach can save hours of work.

It doesn’t try to automate everything. It just ensures you never forget the things that matter.

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