Question 1

How do I set up Squirrel for my C# Windows application?

Accepted Answer

Start by adding the Squirrel NuGet package to your project, then follow the getting started guide in the documentation to integrate the update API. You'll need to package your app as a NuGet package and set up an HTTP server for distribution.

Question 2

Squirrel vs ClickOnce: which is better for automatic updates?

Accepted Answer

Squirrel is often preferred because it works more reliably, supports delta updates, and offers wizard-free installation. However, ClickOnce might be better if you need tight Visual Studio integration or specific enterprise deployment features.

Question 3

Can Squirrel handle offline installations or air-gapped environments?

Accepted Answer

Squirrel primarily relies on HTTP-based updates, so offline installations are challenging. For air-gapped environments, you'd need to manually distribute packages or set up a local update server, which adds complexity.

Question 4

How to create delta updates with Squirrel to reduce download size?

Accepted Answer

Use the Squirrel command-line tools to generate delta packages by comparing new and old versions. This requires maintaining a release history on your update server, as documented in the packaging guide.

Question 5

Is Squirrel compatible with .NET Core or .NET 5+ applications?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Squirrel can work with .NET Core and newer .NET versions, but you need to ensure proper packaging of runtime dependencies. Check the documentation for specifics on handling self-contained deployments.

Question 6

What are the security risks of using HTTP for updates with Squirrel?

Accepted Answer

HTTP updates can be vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks if not secured. It's recommended to use HTTPS or code-sign your packages to verify integrity, though Squirrel doesn't enforce this by default.

Squirrel

What is Squirrel?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Open Source Alternative To

Frequently Asked Questions