Christoph and the team over at the Home Server Blog are working on an app store for Windows Home Server. The first stage of the project is the release of a tool for developers called Add-In Reporter which reads available information about a particular add-in from its installation file.
That information will be turned into an XML file which, in the future, can be read by a free add-in for WHS users which can be used to search for particular add-ins as well as provide notifications for add-in updates.
The Home Server Blog Add-In Reporter is a new software from Andreas M. which will help us to create a centralized Windows Home Server Add-In Repository with the newest update information directly from the add-in developers. As a developer you can use this tool to automatically send your MSI / Add-In information to a web service. Your data will be combined with some description and user ratings for the add-in and then compiles into a XML file. This XML file will be used by a new Windows Home Server Add-In which will be released soon and offer a AppStore like option for Windows Home Server users. This service is free! The Windows Home Server users will have a nice list of add-ins with ratings, download links, forum & support information and much more. Also the new Add-In will check the installed version of add-ins and check those against the online information. Load of benefits for you and of course for your users. We hope to get your support. The reporting tool is available in English/German and also the Add-In will be so.
Sounds like an exciting project! Find out more over at the Home Server Blog.
More Info: Add-In Reporter
23. November 2009 at 12:08 pm
Nice, I'm glad somebody has stepped up to fill MS shoes, I just hope developers will use this.
24. November 2009 at 7:19 am
Fantastic, what a good idea!
Go guys go!