Desktop Application Desktop Application Deployment & Distribution 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'sideloading' in the context of desktop application distribution?
- Preloading app assets for faster startup
- Installing an application outside of an official app store or marketplace (Correct answer)
- Running an application on a secondary display
- Distributing updates via peer-to-peer networking
Correct answer: Installing an application outside of an official app store or marketplace
Sideloading means installing an application through unofficial channels by downloading and running an installer directly, bypassing a curated app store.
Question 2: What is a delta (differential) update in desktop application deployment?
- An update that removes all previous application files before reinstalling
- An update that downloads only the changed binary portions between versions (Correct answer)
- An update that requires a complete application reinstall
- An update delivered via an email attachment
Correct answer: An update that downloads only the changed binary portions between versions
A delta update transmits only the binary differences between the old and new versions, dramatically reducing download size and update time.
Question 3: Which auto-update framework is most commonly used for Electron-based desktop applications?
- ClickOnce
- electron-updater (via electron-builder) (Correct answer)
- WiX Toolset
- MSIX update package
Correct answer: electron-updater (via electron-builder)
electron-updater, part of the electron-builder package, is the standard auto-update solution for Electron apps, supporting GitHub Releases, S3, and custom servers.
Question 4: What defines a 'portable application'?
- An app optimized for mobile and tablet devices
- An app that runs from a USB drive without modifying the host system (Correct answer)
- An app designed for low-bandwidth network conditions
- An app built with a cross-platform UI framework
Correct answer: An app that runs from a USB drive without modifying the host system
A portable application stores all files and settings in a self-contained directory, allowing it to run from removable media without writing to the registry or system folders.
Question 5: In Windows enterprise environments, which Group Policy feature is used to automatically deploy MSI packages to domain-joined computers?
- Software Restriction Policies
- Software Installation in Group Policy Objects (GPO) (Correct answer)
- AppLocker application control
- Windows Defender Application Guard
Correct answer: Software Installation in Group Policy Objects (GPO)
Group Policy Software Installation (under Computer/User Configuration → Policies → Software Settings) lets administrators assign or publish MSI packages across Active Directory domains.
Question 6: What does application virtualization (e.g., Microsoft App-V) accomplish in desktop deployment?
- Runs applications inside a full virtual machine
- Isolates applications from the OS to prevent conflicts and simplify deployment (Correct answer)
- Streams desktop apps entirely from the cloud with no local install
- Compresses executable files to reduce disk usage
Correct answer: Isolates applications from the OS to prevent conflicts and simplify deployment
Application virtualization encapsulates apps in isolated virtual environments, preventing DLL conflicts and registry pollution while allowing deployment without traditional installation.
Question 7: What is the Squirrel framework primarily used for in desktop application development?
- Unit and integration testing of Electron applications
- Automating installation, update delivery, and uninstallation for Windows and macOS apps (Correct answer)
- Managing database schema migrations at startup
- Providing a UI component library for native-style controls
Correct answer: Automating installation, update delivery, and uninstallation for Windows and macOS apps
Squirrel handles the full lifecycle of desktop app releases — installing, updating, and uninstalling — and is commonly used with Electron applications.
Desktop Application Desktop Application Deployment & Distribution 2
What is 'sideloading' in the context of desktop application distribution?