Why do some companies distribute thair downloadable software through a downloadable custom downloader instead of offering the full installer directly to download? It has puzzled me several times throughout the last 20 years. I can not come up with a good reason. Especially when the custom downloader doesn't suppoert resuming interrupted downloads, display remaining time, current download speed or how much data is being downloaded. Notable example is the Spofify (Mac) downloader. I would really like to know what are good reasons from a UX, business or technical perspective to do that.
Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
1–10 of 19 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#2Could be because of EV app certificates (which get rid of the warning screen when you install a desktop app). These require a number of installs before the warning goes away. When you modify the executable at all though, the counter resets. Instead, if you keep the same install executable and fetch the latest version of the app, you can keep from resetting that counter.
Just going from my experience.
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#3Could be because of EV app certificates (which get rid of the warning screen when you install a desktop app). These require a number of installs before the warning goes away. When you modify the executable at all though, the counter resets. Instead, if you keep the same install executable and fetch the latest version of the app, you can keep from resetting that counter. Just going from my experience.
Thank you. That makes perfect sense. I wasn't aware of how exactly EV app certificates work out inpractice as I have never shipped a desktop app.
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#4Could be because of EV app certificates (which get rid of the warning screen when you install a desktop app). These require a number of installs before the warning goes away. When you modify the executable at all though, the counter resets. Instead, if you keep the same install executable and fetch the latest version of the app, you can keep from resetting that counter. Just going from my experience.
The Windows SmartScreen can be a real pain when you release frequent updates.
Do you know of any off-the-shelf downloader that would handle the download and install of the versioned app, or is it a 'build your own' thing?
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#5I always assumed that the in-browser download completing ~instantly and a native branded GUI establishing itself as a separate window must make the average user slightly more likely to follow through with the installation, instead of forgetting about the download. Basically an attention trick.
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#6I'm not sure, but I think it's about resumable downloads and handling downloading errors.
I practically never download anything large through a browser: I get the link and then use `wget -c` to make sure I get the file, automatically retries when connection is lost and re-established, etc, instead of waiting a long time and then checking the download in the browser and find out it failed a few minutes after it started for whatever reason.
If it's a couple of megabytes, I use the browser. I don't trust the browser with larger downloads.
The "app downloader" may be doing similar things.
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#7the downloader version won't change as often as the actual app version. The downloader can (should) handle any newer version of the app tho
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#8They generally download the latest package, according to the computer specifications. You don't have to choose if it's 32-bit or 64-bit. The provider doesn't need to update the installer app itself if there's an updated package.
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#9I'm not sure, but I think it's about resumable downloads and handling downloading errors. I practically never download anything large through a browser: I get the link and then use `wget -c` to make sure I get the file, automatically retries when connection is lost and re-established, etc, instead of waiting a long time and then checking the download in the browser and find out it failed a few minutes after it starte…
Well that probably made sense in times of IE5, but modern browsers can’t be worse than wget -c ...
Re: Ask HN: Why Download a Downloader to Download an app?
#10Basically so that executable software is downloaded running and given PERMISSIONS as quickly as possible.