Best way to install popular apps on new installation of Windows?

Question

When you install Windows on a new machine - assuming this is not done via cloning of hard disks / partitions - you want to install a bunch of applications, or pieces of software, on that machine: Things like a PDF reader, a second web browser, a SFTP client, Dot-Net and Java runtimes and so on. It doesn't quite matter exactly what the set of these apps - I'm asking about how to have them installed. Of course I'm looking for software solutions, but you could say that's in the general sense. So, options I've thought of, with a few examples:

• A Windows package manager:

  • Ninite
  • NuGet

• Slipstreaming software beforehand into the Windows installation image:

  • nLite

• A non-windows-specific configuration management tool:

  • Puppet

I don't actually have solid opinions, nor experience, with most of the above, so please feel free to recommend, or de-commend, any of them, or others.

Required features:

• Gratis
• Actively maintained

Desired features:

• Libre
• Does not require internet connection immediately upon installation

Answer 1

I would recommend Chocolatey which is a Windows package manager:

• Gratis & Paid versions
• CLI & GUI clients
• MSI, NSIS, InnoSetup, etc. plus runtime binaries and zip archives
• Install and configure
• Facility to bundle packages for offline install (Business/Paid Edition)

Answer 2

Try Scoop.sh

Scoop is very scriptable, so you can run repeatable setups to get your environment just the way you like, e.g.:

scoop install sudo
sudo scoop install 7zip git openssh --global
scoop install curl grep sed less tail touch
scoop install python ruby go perl

Answer 3

You could try the official Microsoft way of creating install disks with all recent patches, which is known as "slipstreaming".

Here is a good article on how to slipstream Windows 10. To quote:

Microsoft provides Windows 10 ISO files for clean installation of a new system. Usually those ISOs lack the latest Windows 10 hotfixes / patches / security updates. Luckily you can create your own up to date Windows 10 ISO files when you slipstream Windows 10 with all existing updates. What does it mean to slipstream Windows 10?

The concept of Slipstreaming refers to integrating updates, patches or service packs into the installation files of their original software. Slipstreamed Windows ISOs allow a fresh installation of an up-to-date Windows which is of great benefit for system administrators who often manage hundreds of systems.

But to slipstream a Windows 10 ISO is also beneficial for everybody who installs Windows 10 more frequently for friends or family members. To create a slipstreamed Windows 10 ISO you do not need special knowledge and no commercial software. On fast systems the process can be finished in just some minutes. Below you find the whole procedure as a video and in a step-by-step tutorial.

This Lifehacker page describes the process for Windows. The same should hold true for all modern Windows versions. I only mention the Windows 7 page for the quotes:

Cut your install time in half by slipstreaming Service Pack 1 and adding all your favorite apps to your install disc, so you don't have to sit there installing things each time you put Windows on a new computer.