🛠️ GeneralUpdate.Tools

February 12, 2026 · View on GitHub

GeneralUpdate Logo

A powerful desktop tool for managing software updates and extensions 🚀

📖 What is GeneralUpdate.Tools?

GeneralUpdate.Tools is a user-friendly desktop application that helps developers create and manage software update packages. It's part of the GeneralUpdate ecosystem - a complete solution for implementing automatic updates in your applications.

Think of it as your "Update Package Workshop" 🏭 where you can:

📦 Create differential update packages (only ship what changed!)
📝 Generate version configuration files
🧩 Package and manage application extensions

✨ Why Use This Tool?

💡 Beginner-Friendly: Simple visual interface - no complex command lines
⚡ Save Bandwidth: Create differential packages that only include changed files
🎯 Cross-Platform: Works on Windows and Linux
🔧 All-in-One: Three powerful tools in one application

🎯 Core Features

1️⃣ Packet Builder 📦

Create differential update packages for your applications. Instead of shipping the entire application again, only include the files that changed!

What it does:

Compares your old version with the new version
Identifies only the changed files
Creates a compressed update package (.zip)
Optionally includes driver files

Perfect for: Reducing download sizes and update times

2️⃣ OSS Packet Builder 📝

Generate version.json configuration files that tell your application where and how to download updates.

What it does:

Creates version configuration in JSON format
Specifies update package URLs and metadata
Manages version history
Supports hash verification for security

Perfect for: Managing update metadata and version tracking

3️⃣ Extension Manager 🧩

Package your application extensions into distributable packages with proper metadata.

What it does:

Compresses extension directories into .zip files
Generates manifest.json with extension metadata
Supports custom properties and dependencies
Platform-specific targeting (Windows/Linux/MacOS)

Perfect for: Creating plugin systems and extension marketplaces

🚀 Quick Start Guide

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

✅ Operating System: Windows 10+ or Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+)
✅ .NET Runtime: .NET 8.0 SDK or Runtime
✅ Disk Space: At least 200MB free space

📥 Installation

Option 1: Download Pre-built Release (Recommended for Beginners)

Go to the Releases page
Download the latest version for your platform
Extract the ZIP file to a folder
Run the executable:
- Windows: Double-click GeneralUpdate.Tool.Avalonia.exe
- Linux: Run ./GeneralUpdate.Tool.Avalonia in terminal

Option 2: Build from Source

# 1. Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/GeneralLibrary/GeneralUpdate.Tools.git
cd GeneralUpdate.Tools

# 2. Navigate to the source folder
cd src

# 3. Restore dependencies
dotnet restore

# 4. Build the project
dotnet build

# 5. Run the application
dotnet run

📚 Usage Tutorial (Cookbook)

🍳 Recipe 1: Creating Your First Update Package

Let's create a differential update package step by step!

Scenario: You have version 1.0.0 of your app and want to update it to version 2.0.0

Step 1: Prepare Your Directories

You need three folders:

App Directory (📂 Old Version): Contains your version 1.0.0 files
Release Directory (📂 New Version): Contains your version 2.0.0 files
Patch Directory (📂 Output): Where the differential files will be saved

Example structure:
C:/MyApp/v1.0.0/     ← Old version
C:/MyApp/v2.0.0/     ← New version
C:/MyApp/patch/      ← Temporary output folder

Step 2: Open Packet Builder

Launch GeneralUpdate.Tools
Click on the "Packet" tab at the top
You'll see a form with several fields

Step 3: Configure Your Package

Fill in the fields:

Field	What to Enter	Example
Name	Package filename	`MyApp_Update_v2.0.0`
App Directory	Path to old version	`C:/MyApp/v1.0.0/`
Release Directory	Path to new version	`C:/MyApp/v2.0.0/`
Patch Directory	Temp output path	`C:/MyApp/patch/`
Format	Compression format	`.zip` (default)
Encoding	Text encoding	`UTF-8` (recommended)

Step 4: Optional - Add Driver Files

If your update includes driver files:

Click "Select" next to "Driver Directory"
Choose the folder containing your driver files
They'll be automatically placed in a drivers/ folder inside the package

Step 5: Build the Package!

Click the "Build" button 🔨
Wait for processing (may take a few moments)
Success! 🎉 You'll see a message "Build success"
Your update package is saved in the parent directory of your Patch Directory

Result: You now have a .zip file containing only the changed files!

🍳 Recipe 2: Creating Version Configuration (OSS Packet)

Now let's create a version.json file that tells your application about available updates.

Step 1: Open OSS Packet Builder

Click on the "OSS Packet" tab
You'll see fields for version information

Step 2: Enter Version Information

Fill in the details for your update:

Field	What to Enter	Example
Version	Version number	`2.0.0.0`
Packet Name	Name of your .zip file	`MyApp_Update_v2.0.0.zip`
URL	Download URL	`https://updates.myapp.com/packages/MyApp_Update_v2.0.0.zip`
Date	Release date	`2026-02-11`
Time	Release time	`16:30:00`

Step 3: Calculate Hash (Security)

Click the "Hash" button 🔒
Select your .zip package file
The tool will calculate a SHA256 hash
This ensures the download wasn't corrupted or tampered with

Step 4: Add to Configuration

Click "Append" ➕ to add this version to the list
You can add multiple versions (version history)
The JSON preview will update automatically

Step 5: Save Configuration

Click "Build" button 💾
Choose where to save your version.json file
Success! You can now upload this file to your server

Result: You have a version.json file that looks like this:

[
  {
    "Version": "2.0.0.0",
    "PacketName": "MyApp_Update_v2.0.0.zip",
    "Url": "https://updates.myapp.com/packages/MyApp_Update_v2.0.0.zip",
    "Hash": "abc123def456...",
    "Date": "2026-02-11T16:30:00"
  }
]

🍳 Recipe 3: Packaging an Extension

Create a distributable extension package with metadata.

Step 1: Prepare Your Extension

Make sure you have:

A folder containing your extension files
Extension metadata (name, version, description)

Step 2: Open Extension Manager

Click on the "Extension" tab
You'll see a comprehensive form

Step 3: Fill Basic Information

Field	What to Enter	Example
Name	Extension identifier	`MyAwesomePlugin`
Display Name	User-friendly name	`My Awesome Plugin`
Version	Version number	`1.0.0.0`
Description	What it does	`Adds awesome features to your app`
Publisher	Your name/company	`Your Company Name`

Step 4: Select Directories

Extension Directory: Click "Select" and choose your extension folder
Export Path: Click "Select" and choose where to save the package

Step 5: Configure Platform & Details

Platform: Select target platform (Windows/Linux/MacOS/All)
License: Enter license type (e.g., "MIT", "Apache-2.0")
Categories: Enter categories separated by commas (e.g., "Tools, Productivity")

Step 6: Advanced Options (Optional)

Dependencies: Enter required extension IDs (comma-separated)
Min/Max Host Version: Specify compatible app versions
Custom Properties: Add key-value pairs for extra metadata

Step 7: Generate Package

Click "Generate" button 🎁
Wait for compression
Success! Your extension package is created

Result: You get a .zip file like MyAwesomePlugin_1.0.0.0.zip containing:

All your extension files
A manifest.json with all the metadata

🎨 Understanding the Interface

Main Window Layout

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  [Packet] [OSS Packet] [Extension]  │  ← Tabs
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                     │
│         Feature Content Area        │
│                                     │
│  (Forms and controls for selected   │
│   feature appear here)              │
│                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘