Scoop

Name: Scoop
Brand: Scoop

A command-line installer that gets developer tools onto Windows with minimal friction.

softwarePackage Managerspackage-managerwindows-cliopen-source

What is Scoop?

Scoop is a free, open-source command-line package manager for Windows, similar in spirit to Homebrew on macOS. It installs applications, mostly portable, self-contained programs, straight from the terminal, resolving dependencies automatically and avoiding the UAC prompts and installer wizards that come with typical Windows setup.exe files. Because Scoop installs programs into the user's home directory rather than system-wide locations, it keeps the PATH clean and avoids scattering files or registry entries across the system. It's commonly used by developers to quickly set up a new Windows machine with command-line tools, language runtimes, and other utilities from Scoop's community-maintained 'buckets' of app manifests.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source✅ Yes

api available❌ No

support optionsDocumentation, GitHub Issues

key integrationsPowerShell, GitHub

Key Features of Scoop

Installs Windows applications from the command line without triggering UAC prompts or GUI installer wizards.

Automatically resolves and installs dependencies needed to get an app into a working state.

Installs programs into the user's home directory instead of system-wide locations, keeping the PATH clean.

Prefers portable, self-contained app formats that avoid registry changes and other system side effects.

Organizes available apps into community-maintained 'buckets' of installation manifests.

Supports clean uninstalls that remove exactly what was installed, without leftover files.

Use Cases for Scoop

Setting up a new dev machine

Script the installation of command-line tools and language runtimes on a fresh Windows install.

Installing CLI utilities

Quickly install and update command-line utilities without hunting for installer files.

Keeping a clean system

Avoid registry clutter and PATH pollution by installing portable apps into the user directory.

Managing dev tool versions

Install and switch between versions of tools and runtimes using Scoop buckets.

Pros & Cons of Scoop

Pros

Completely free and open source
No admin rights or UAC prompts needed for most installs
Keeps the system clean by avoiding registry and system-path pollution
Fast way to script a new Windows dev machine setup

Cons

Best suited to portable/self-contained apps, not every Windows installer works well
Windows-only, unlike cross-platform managers
Relies on community-maintained buckets, so app coverage and quality can vary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Scoop free?

Yes, Scoop is completely free and open source.

Do I need admin rights to use Scoop?

No, most Scoop installs run from a regular, non-admin PowerShell terminal.

How is Scoop different from Chocolatey?

Scoop favors portable, self-contained apps installed to the user directory, while Chocolatey more often wraps traditional Windows installers with system-wide installation.

How do I install Scoop?

Run Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser, then Invoke-RestMethod -Uri https://get.scoop.sh | Invoke-Expression from a non-admin PowerShell terminal.

Pricing Overview

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Free

Scoop

Free

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