WingetUI has now been rebranded as UniGetUI, complete with a fresh new icon to mark this transformation. This change is more than just cosmetic; it signifies a comprehensive overhaul of the package management experience.
Revamped Package Engine
The Package Engine has undergone a complete redesign, leading to significant speed improvements. Package managers that support fetching packages via APIs, such as WinGet using COM and NuGet-Based managers using REST nuget APIs, will benefit from these enhancements. Additionally, the method for loading icons has been renewed. Now, package managers that support this feature will provide icons directly to the packages.
Microsoft Store packages (winget: msstore) will now display their screenshots on the details page, offering users a clearer view of what they are installing. Furthermore, the system WinGet is now used by default, and the bundled WinGet is no longer employed for fetching or installing packages.
In an effort to streamline data management, the lifecycle of Packages, PackageDetails, and InstallationOptions has been modified to avoid duplicated instances of the same data in RAM. Already loaded package data will be recycled from previous loads, enhancing efficiency.
Enhanced Interface and User Experience
UniGetUI's interface has seen important improvements across the board. The Software Pages have been rebuilt using ItemsView instead of ListView, reducing RAM usage by approximately 70-100MB. The Package Details page now utilizes RichTextBlock, ensuring content does not overflow and is better presented. Bold, italic, and greyed-out fonts are used to make the interface more understandable, and text and URLs can be copied.
The Logs pages have also been revamped to provide more critical information in a more digestible format. Different levels of logs have been introduced, simplifying the debugging and issue-understanding process. The Settings page has been reorganized into more coherent categories for easier navigation.
ContentDialogs have seen improvements as well. Dialogs that do not require user decisions now feature a "Close" button at the top-right corner, enhancing usability.
Technical Enhancements
The Package Engine has been internally decoupled from the Interface, allowing for more modular development. The System Tray now boasts new, pixel-perfect icons, adding a touch of visual polish.
The installer has been updated to ensure that WinGet and Microsoft.WinGet.Client are present on the system. Users also have the option to skip installing Chocolatey if they prefer.
Overall, this update brings tons of bug fixes and improvements, making UniGetUI a more robust and user-friendly tool for managing software packages.
