Easy Steps To Install and Use Scoop on Windows 10/11

This guide is designed to walk you through the process of how to Install and Use Scoop on Windows 10/11. Scoop is a powerful command-line package manager for Windows that simplifies the installation and management of common programs and utilities. It boasts support for a vast array of Windows software, including many popular tools from the Unix world. Scoop effectively addresses several common challenges associated with the Windows software ecosystem, bringing it closer to the convenience and efficiency of package manager models found in Unix-based systems.

Now, let’s delve into the step-by-step instructions on how to set up the Windows Scoop Package Manager.

To set up the Windows Scoop Package Manager, you will need to access your Windows Client and proceed with the following steps. For this guide, we will be using Windows 10 with administrator privileges. The steps are similar for Windows 11.

Here’s a video tutorial to help you as well:

1. Install Windows Scoop Package Manager

First, you’ll need to open PowerShell as an administrator. Then, execute the following command to set the execution policy to RemoteSigned.

This ensures that you can run PowerShell scripts that you’ve either created or downloaded from the internet.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Confirm the execution policy change by pressing ‘y’.

Next, download and install Scoop using the following command:

Invoke-Expression "& {$(Invoke-RestMethod get.scoop.sh)} -RunAsAdmin"

download the scoop installer and install it

Verify your installation by running the following command, which will display a list of available commands for Scoop on Windows:

scoop -h

2. How To Use Windows Scoop Package Manager?

Now, let’s explore how to use Scoop on Windows to install, update, install multiple versions of a package, and switch between package versions. Understanding how to Install and Use Scoop on Windows is essential for efficient software management.

Search Packages with Scoop

Scoop allows you to search for available packages using the bucket command.

The bucket command lists all repositories (or buckets) containing Scoop packages. These buckets are similar to package repositories in Linux, containing lists of available packages and their dependencies.

To list available buckets, run:

scoop bucket list

The output indicates that the main bucket contains 1185 packages available for installation.

Each Scoop bucket contains manifest files, which are periodically updated to add or remove packages. These files describe how to install a package and its dependencies.

To find a specific package, use the following syntax:

scoop search <package-name>

For example, to search for 7-zip:

scoop search 7zip

Install a Package with Scoop

Install a package using the following command:

scoop install 7zip

**Output**
...
'7zip' (22.01) was installed successfully!

Verify the installation:

7z

To install multiple packages simultaneously:

scoop install 7zip nodejs

Update Packages with Windows Scoop Package Manager

Update Scoop itself:

scoop update

If Git is not installed, you’ll receive the following output:

**Output**
Scoop uses Git to update itself. Run 'scoop install git' and try again.

Install Git and re-run the update command:

# scoop install git
# scoop update

Update Packages with Windows Scoop Package Manager

Verify Scoop is updated:

scoop status

**Output**
Scoop is up to date.
Everything is ok!

To update a specific package:

scoop update <package-name>

To update all packages:

scoop update *

Add Extra buckets and Install Multiple Versions of a Package with Scoop

Scoop installs packages from buckets. To install packages from other buckets besides the main one, you need to add the bucket:

List known available buckets:

scoop bucket known

Add the Java bucket:

scoop bucket add java

**Output**
Checking repo... OK
The java bucket was added successfully.

Install OpenJDK from the Java bucket:

scoop install openjdk

This installs the latest version of OpenJDK.

**Output**
'openjdk' (19.0.2-7) was installed successfully!

Note: You can install specific versions of OpenJDK. This allows multiple versions of Java to be installed on your system.

For example:

scoop install openjdk17

**Output**
'openjdk17' (17.0.2-8) was installed successfully!

Switch Between Package Versions with Scoop Package Manager

Switch between installed versions using the reset command.

To switch to Java 17:

scoop reset openjdk17

**Output**
Resetting openjdk17 (17.0.2-8).
Linking ~scoopappsopenjdk17current => ~scoopappsopenjdk1717.0.2-8

Check the Java version:

java --version

**Output**
openjdk 17.0.2 2022-01-18
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 17.0.2+8-86)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 17.0.2+8-86, mixed mode, sharing)

To switch back to the latest version of Java:

scoop reset openjdk

**Output**
Resetting openjdk (19.0.2-7).
Linking ~scoopappsopenjdkcurrent => ~scoopappsopenjdk19.0.2-7

Verify the Java version:

java --version

**Output**
openjdk 19.0.2 2023-01-17
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 19.0.2+7-44)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 19.0.2+7-44, mixed mode, sharing)

For more information, visit the Scoop website.

Conclusion

This guide has demonstrated how to Install and Use Scoop on Windows and use it to install, update, install multiple versions of a package, and switch between package versions. Understanding how to Install and Use Scoop on Windows can significantly streamline your software management workflow.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Alternative Solutions for Package Management on Windows

While Scoop provides an excellent way to manage packages on Windows, other alternative methods exist. Here are two different approaches to achieving similar results:

1. Chocolatey

Chocolatey is another popular package manager for Windows, offering a vast repository of software packages. It’s similar to Scoop in its purpose but differs in its approach. Chocolatey often requires administrator privileges for installation and operation, whereas Scoop typically installs packages in the user’s home directory, avoiding the need for administrator rights in many cases.

Explanation:

Chocolatey utilizes a centralized repository of packages, maintained by a community of contributors. This allows users to easily search for, install, and update software from a single command-line interface. Chocolatey’s packages are essentially scripts that automate the installation process, handling downloads, dependencies, and configuration.

Installation and Usage Example:

First, open PowerShell as an administrator. Then, execute the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

After installation, you can use Chocolatey to install packages. For instance, to install 7-zip:

choco install 7zip

To update a package:

choco upgrade 7zip

2. Winget (Windows Package Manager)

Winget is the official package manager for Windows, developed by Microsoft. It’s integrated directly into Windows 10 and Windows 11, providing a seamless experience for installing and managing software.

Explanation:

Winget uses a manifest-based approach, similar to Scoop, where package information is stored in manifest files. It sources packages from the Microsoft Store and other trusted repositories, ensuring security and reliability.

Installation and Usage Example:

Winget is typically pre-installed on recent versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. To check if it’s installed, open a command prompt or PowerShell and type:

winget --version

If Winget is installed, you’ll see the version number. If not, you may need to update your App Installer from the Microsoft Store.

To install 7-zip using Winget:

winget install 7zip.7zip

To search for a package:

winget search 7zip

To upgrade a package:

winget upgrade 7zip.7zip

Both Chocolatey and Winget offer viable alternatives to Scoop for managing software on Windows. Choosing the right tool depends on your specific needs and preferences. Chocolatey provides a vast library and established community support, while Winget offers native integration and security benefits. Knowing how to Install and Use Scoop on Windows, along with alternatives like Chocolatey and Winget, empowers you to choose the best package management solution for your workflow.

It is important to remember that understanding how to Install and Use Scoop on Windows is still a very viable option, especially for users coming from Linux distributions, since Scoop’s commands and overall management philosophy are similar.