AppList

A Windows application inventory tool for scanning, cataloging, comparing, and exporting installed software before migrations, rebuilds, audits, and reinstall planning.

Features

Comprehensive Scanning

• Registry uninstall keys from HKLM 64-bit, HKLM 32-bit, and HKCU
• Microsoft Store / AppX packages via PowerShell
• Program Files discovery for unregistered desktop apps
• Chocolatey, Scoop, and Python pip package inventories
• Locale-safe Winget cross-reference for package IDs, update availability, and pin status
• Last-used date enrichment from UserAssist and Windows Prefetch evidence when accessible
• SHA-256 hashing of discovered executables with cached VirusTotal report links
• Per-source scan diagnostics for skipped, warning, and failed inventory phases
• Package-manager consistency audit for Chocolatey/Scoop rows without local app evidence

Detailed Information Captured

• Application name, publisher, version, install date, last-used date, source, type, architecture, and size
• Install location, executable path, registry uninstall key, and uninstall command
• Winget package ID, upgrade status, pin status, missing-path flag, and package-manager consistency status
• SHA-256 hash and VirusTotal report URL when a primary executable can be identified

Premium Interface

• Catppuccin Mocha dark theme
• DPI-aware Windows title bar integration
• Threaded scans with live progress and cancellation
• Sortable table with Application, Publisher, Version, Installed, Last Used, Type, Source, Upgrade, Pin, Winget ID, SHA-256, VirusTotal, Consistency, Size, Arch, Location, and Registry Key columns
• 500-row table pagination for large inventories while exports still include the full filtered result set
• Optional source-grouped view with expandable/collapsible source sections
• Live search across names, publishers, versions, paths, sources, types, and Winget IDs
• Type, source, and upgrade/data-quality filters
• First-run, scanning, no-match, error, and empty-result states
• Warning status when a scan completes with skipped or degraded sources
• Context menu actions that disable when unavailable

Export Options

• TXT report
• CSV spreadsheet export
• Markdown grouped report
• JSON snapshot for machine-readable diffing
• HTML self-contained searchable dashboard
• Winget import JSON
• pip requirements.txt
• Chocolatey packages.config
• Restore bundle ZIP with inventory, restore files, commands, and unmatched report

Diff / Compare

• Compare two AppList JSON snapshots and report Added, Removed, and VersionChanged entries
• Run from CLI: python AppList.py --diff old.json new.json
• Output to file: python AppList.py --diff old.json new.json -o diff_report.txt
• Output as JSON: python AppList.py --diff old.json new.json -o diff_report.json

Installation

Prerequisites

• Windows 10/11
• Python 3.8 or higher

Run the Application

py -m pip install -r requirements.txt
python AppList.py

Or double-click AppList.py in Windows Explorer after dependencies are installed.

Usage

1. Launch the application
2. Click Scan System to begin comprehensive scanning
3. Use search and filters to narrow the inventory
4. Click column headers to sort
5. Right-click any item for context menu actions
6. Double-click to open the install location
7. Export the filtered view as TXT, CSV, Markdown, JSON, HTML, Winget, pip, Chocolatey, or restore bundle output

CLI Mode

python AppList.py --export csv --output apps.csv --include store,winget
python AppList.py --export html --output dashboard.html
python AppList.py --export pip --output requirements.txt --include pip
python AppList.py --export choco --output packages.config --include choco
python AppList.py --export bundle --output restore-bundle.zip
python AppList.py --diff old_snapshot.json new_snapshot.json
python AppList.py --diff old.json new.json -o report.json

Supported export formats: txt, csv, md, markdown, json, winget, html, pip, choco, bundle.

Supported source filters: all, desktop, registry, store, program_files, chocolatey, scoop, pip, winget.

Tests and Local Build

python -m unittest discover -s tests
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File tools/verify_release_dependencies.ps1
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File tools/build_exe.ps1

Dependencies are exact-pinned in requirements.txt. The release verifier creates a clean local virtual environment, installs the locked dependency set, runs pip-audit, runs tests, and imports the GUI against the pinned customtkinter version. The build script installs from the same lock file before creating dist/AppList.exe with PyInstaller and uses a local code-signing certificate when one is available.

Export Formats

TXT Format

Human-readable report with generation timestamp, total count, and full details for each application.

CSV Format

Spreadsheet-ready rows with application identity, install metadata, source/type data, Winget ID, update status, and pin status.

Markdown Format

GitHub-ready grouped report for Desktop, Store, Unregistered, Chocolatey, Scoop, Python, and any other detected app types.

JSON Format

Full AppList schema with machine name, generation timestamp, and application records for round-trippable snapshot diffing.

Restore Bundle

ZIP or folder output containing AppList JSON, Winget import JSON, pip requirements, Chocolatey config, Markdown and HTML reports, restore-commands.ps1, manifest.json, and unmatched-skipped.md.

Tips for Windows Reinstallation

1. Run a full scan before reinstalling Windows
2. Export Markdown for reading and JSON for diffing
3. Use Winget IDs to reinstall apps with winget install <ID>
4. Use CSV in Excel to track reinstall progress
5. Keep install locations for apps that require custom paths

Technical Notes

• Modular package layout with scanner, export, CLI, model, constants, and GUI modules
• Runs with elevated privileges for complete registry access
• Filters system components, Windows updates, framework packages, and duplicate entries
• Parses UserAssist and Prefetch activity on a best-effort basis for last-used timestamps
• Caches executable SHA-256 hashes in %APPDATA%\AppList\wingetlist-sha-cache.json
• Uses Microsoft.WinGet.Client on PowerShell 7+ for structured winget package data, with JSON and locale-aware winget.exe fallback
• JSON, TXT, Markdown, CSV, and HTML exports include package-manager consistency status
• JSON, TXT, Markdown, and HTML exports include scan diagnostics when an inventory source is skipped or degraded
• Restore bundle export packages reinstall artifacts and unmatched/manual review notes together
• DPI-aware rendering
• Thread-safe scanning with cancellation support
• Pinned release dependency lock with local pip-audit verification and PyInstaller build enforcement
• Local PyInstaller build script for single-file Windows executable generation

License

MIT License - Free for personal and commercial use.

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AppList v1.6.10