Microsoft is introducing a new platform for Windows 11 that will allow third-party software developers to use Windows Update to update their own applications. The company calls this innovation the "Windows Update Orchestration Platform."
The platform is currently available in private testing and the company has not yet disclosed the timing of the official release. The focus of the new platform will primarily be on business applications, but any developers will be able to apply and use Windows updates for their own software.
"Updates across the Windows ecosystem can feel like a fragmented experience. To solve this, we're building a vision for a unified, intelligent update orchestration platform capable of supporting any update (apps, drivers, etc.) to be orchestrated alongside Windows updates," writes Microsoft Product Manager Angie Chen.
Chen explains that Microsoft decided to build a new platform based on Windows Update because currently almost all software on Windows is updated independently. This can lead to higher CPU and bandwidth usage while using the computer, missed updates, and additional support costs. The orchestration platform will give developers an API to integrate their updates and simplify the process.
"Built on the Windows Update stack, the orchestration platform aims to provide developers and product teams building apps and management tools with an API for onboarding their update(s) that supports the needs of their installers. The orchestrator will coordinate across all onboarded products that are updated on Windows 11, in addition to Windows Update, to provide IT admins and users with a consistent management plane and experience, respectively," Microsoft said in an announcement.
Among the main advantages of using the new platform, Microsoft calls eco-efficient scheduling, when updates will be postponed based on user activity, system performance, etc. Also, thanks to the platform, users will be able to receive notifications about available system-level updates and view update history in Windows 11 settings.