• 0

Advantage of web-based installers?


Question

Basically, I'm just interested as to why some of the applications (i.e. Flash, Chrome, SkyDrive, etc.) are providing web-based installers by default. Is there any advantage over providing the full installer for the user to download?

(Correct me if I'm wrong on the use of the term "web-based installer" :p)

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1107631-advantage-of-web-based-installers/
Share on other sites

19 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Those are web-based applications that are frequently updated. If you download the full installer there's a chance you will not have the latest version of the application if you run it again at a later date. If you're running an outdated version you are vulnerable to exploits. If you have a web-based installer you always have the latest version when you install.

  • 0

Those are web-based applications that are frequently updated. If you download the full installer there's a chance you will not have the latest version of the application if you run it again at a later date. If you're running an outdated version you are vulnerable to exploits. If you have a web-based installer you always have the latest version when you install.

Sounds good, but makes no sense at all.

Flash isn't updated on a minute by minute basis and doesn't need a "web" installer. Not to mention, whatever update mechanism the software uses should aid the user in staying updated anyway since there is always the risk of being outdated (unless you run the "web" installer every few moments...).

I haven't confirmed this, but I'm sure the trend to "Web Based" installers really is about leveraging BitTorrent, or proprietary derivatives of it, to lower the bandwidth costs of the company supplying the installer. As any benefits to end users is so small it is almost zilch.

  • 0

Web-based installers don't have to be recreated for every update. They pull the latest installation data from the company's servers. They also don't have to bundle dependencies that may already be on the target PC, thus cutting down on transfer time and file sizes.

  • 0

It makes things easier for the end user. The small exe detects what system the user is running (x86, x64 for example) so that the user doesn't have to know anything. Just download and run.

That's not really a problem with proper installers (looking at MSI...). Personally I despise web-installers as it means that I'll have to download the actual installer files multiple times when I'm installing a program on several of my PCs...

  • 0

As mentioned above, it provides a way to have an always up-to-date install. Simply dump an exe on the server and the web-installer will pick it up and download it. No need for a full release, no need for large installs (to account for multiple setups), and you can ensure all users are getting the same thing.

  • 0

That's not really a problem with proper installers (looking at MSI...). Personally I despise web-installers as it means that I'll have to download the actual installer files multiple times when I'm installing a program on several of my PCs...

most file for example Chrome you can get an offline installer aswell

  • 0

Forgive me, I haven't read the whole thread but just wanted to put this out there.

I have not came across many web-based installers so far. (the ones where you download a small EXE and run that, which then downloads and installs the software)

The ones I have seen almost always are full of spyware/ad-ware crap. I always thought these were just a way of masking what you are actually downloading behind what you think you are getting. Some of the really bad ones make you download and install an "installer" first, before you can even download your required software.

I've come to hate these "web based installers" and I always avoid them now.

Perhaps I've just had bad experiences but almost every single one has came along with some ad-ware. Some didnt even give me the software it was supposed to.

  • 0

Forgive me, I haven't read the whole thread but just wanted to put this out there.

I have not came across many web-based installers so far. (the ones where you download a small EXE and run that, which then downloads and installs the software)

The ones I have seen almost always are full of spyware/ad-ware crap. I always thought these were just a way of masking what you are actually downloading behind what you think you are getting. Some of the really bad ones make you download and install an "installer" first, before you can even download your required software.

I've come to hate these "web based installers" and I always avoid them now.

Perhaps I've just had bad experiences but almost every single one has came along with some ad-ware. Some didnt even give me the software it was supposed to.

You've had bad experiences..

Web Installes are no more affected by crap/spyware than normal ones lol.

As was said above, it has the advantage of them not having to remake the installer for every update, just change the data at the location [ also if you save the installer, you will always install the latest version, even months apart.. ].. Also many are used with applications that may have additional dependencies, the small exe can see what your system has, and not bother downloading those parts you don't need.

Lastly, and this deals with large ones, the larger the file, the greater the chance that a problem will happen on transfer.. In many cases downloading a large file and your net gets interrupted or something, you need to start over.. a web installer doesn't care, and can just discard bad data and redownload that part, or continue where it left off if you got dc'd for a few sec/min/hrs..

  • 0

The user gets no benefit at all from web-based installers: they are all for the company releasing the crappy-made software. It's as simple as that.

Speak for yourself..

I'm on a slow connetion, and not having to download more dependencies, and not having to worry about my connection crapping out part way in, are amazing..

  • 0

some of what was mentioned may be true. I think there's another reason. They get to learn more about your computer. I don't like them because they tend to mess up installation more than full downloads do, for me.

I don't think there's any "savings" for them - one way or the other, the same data has to get d/l to you computer. If I had to guess, I'd say it has more to do w/ ads & gaining data (of any kind).

  • 0

1. So the user always installs the latest version

2. So the company can collect information during the install

I like online installers because I'm terrible at managing files and I don't want to keep a bunch of installers on my computer, that I'm probably going to forget to backup whenever I format anyway.

  • 0

1. So the user always installs the latest version

2. So the company can collect information during the install

I like online installers because I'm terrible at managing files and I don't want to keep a bunch of installers on my computer, that I'm probably going to forget to backup whenever I format anyway.

There is at least 1 problem with your analagy: The customer may not have internet or has a fresh os install, which should be updated while offline to prevent infection. When i set new systems up, i get the updates beforehand and update. With web installers, i must risk possible infection.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I bought this game. Played it for an hour, and then got a refund from Steam. Not a fun game at all.
    • Nothing Ear buds with active noise cancellation are at their lowest price ever with 51% off by Fiza Ali Amazon is currently offering the Nothing Ear wireless earbuds at their lowest price ever with 51% off limited prime deal. The earbuds feature an 11mm dynamic drivers with a ceramic diaphragm, and support high-resolution audio codecs including AAC, SBC, LDAC, and LHDC 5.0. They support active noise cancellation of up to 45dB across a frequency range of up to 5000Hz, and include a smart ANC algorithm, adaptive noise cancellation, and a transparency mode that allows surrounding sounds to be heard when needed. Connectivity is provided via Bluetooth 5.3, with support for multiple profiles including HFP, A2DP, AVRCP, and others. The earbuds also support dual connection, allowing them to be paired with two devices at the same time. Additional features include IP54 water and dust resistance for the earbuds and IP55 for the charging case, in-ear detection, pinch controls, low-latency mode, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and a three-microphone system per earbud for clearer voice calls. The Nothing X app, available on Android and iOS, provides access to custom EQ settings, bass enhancement, personal sound profiles, ear tip fit testing, firmware updates, customisable controls, dual-device management, and a find-my-earbuds feature. In terms of battery performance, each earbud has a 46mAh battery and the charging case has a 500mAh capacity. With active noise cancellation (ANC) turned off, the earbuds should offer up to 8.5 hours of playback on a single charge and up to 40.5 hours in total with the charging case. With ANC enabled, playback should last up to 5.2 hours on the earbuds and up to 24 hours with the case. For calls, talk time should reach up to 5 hours on the earbuds and 23 hours with the case when ANC is off, while ANC on should provide up to 4 hours on the earbuds and 18 hours with the case. Finally, fast charging should deliver up to 10 hours of playback from 10 minutes of charging when ANC is disabled. Nothing Ear Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth: $73.15 (Amazon US) - 51% off Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Microsoft officially launched its Copilot Cowork enterprise AI agent on June 16, 2026, switching to usage-based pricing on the same day it disclosed it is considering a Microsoft-hosted version of China's DeepSeek V4 as a lower-cost engine for the platform — a pairing that puts the company on a collision course with both its enterprise customers' security teams and a White House that has spent months trying to wall off Chinese AI from American infrastructure.................... https://www.techtimes.com/articles/318647/20260618/microsoft-eyes-deepseek-v4-copilot-cowork-what-azure-hosting-cannot-fix.htm  
    • Forza Horizon 6 gets another hotfix for one of the game's online modes by Taras Buria Recently, Forza Horizon 6 players discovered an interesting glitch that allowed farming a crazy amount of in-game credits in a few minutes. Playground Games quickly pulled the plug on the exploit by disabling one of the game's online modes, and today, the studio is rolling out another hotfix. In my review, I complained about the game still showering gamers with cars, credits, and wheelspins. As such, earning money in Forza Horizon 6 is not a particularly difficult task. You simply have to play the game, crazy, I know. However, people still found an easier path to becoming a billionaire in Forza Horizon 6. All you had to do was purchase the Hummer EV, install a specific tune, shift in reverse while going at about 15 MPH, hit a wall, and get launched into the stratosphere at the speed of light. While mid-air, launch Eliminator and quickly get eliminated. Boom, the game just awarded you with a few million in-game credits. Initially, Playground Games disabled Eliminator to prevent people from farming credits. Now, following the release of the first balancing update, developers are rolling out a new update that re-enables Eliminator and gives users a free McLaren Sabre as a gesture of goodwill. Here is the changelog: One critical issue remains unpatched, though. There are quite a few reports of the game wiping gamers' saves, and developers are still looking into that. To avoid potential data loss, Playground Games recommends taking one of the steps outlined in a previously published support article.
  • Recent Achievements

    • First Post
      AndreaB earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      Huge Trailer earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Classifyskilleducation earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      eurospharma62 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      With What earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      591
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      170
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      76
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      67
    5. 5
      neufuse
      64
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!