Automatically checking for a new version of my application

Question

Trying to honor a feature request from our customers, I\'d like that my application, when Internet is available, check on our website if a new version is available.

The

Answer 1

Pilif answer was good, and I have lots of experience with this too, but I'd like to add something more:

Remember that if you start yourapp.exe, then the "updater" will try to overwrite yourapp.exe with the newest version. Depending upon your operating system and programming environment (you've mentioned C++/QT, I have no experience with those), you will not be able to overwrite yourapp.exe because it will be in use.

What I have done is create a launcher. I have a MyAppLauncher.exe that uses a config file (xml, very simple) to launch the "real exe". Should a new version exist, the Launcher can update the "real exe" because it's not in use, and then relaunch the new version.

Just keep that in mind and you'll be safe.