Add ability to download appx if signed into browser

[WSLUser]

In cases where you purchased Raft but are unable to sign into the Store app (but can install distros from Store), adding the ability to download and install the appx offline while signed into the Store website (in your browser vice the app) should allow for subscriptions to be activated. The amount of time left in a subscription should be assigned to the account and be input somehow into the app. In cases where the user is a beta user that doesn't have a subscription period, the appx should just be able to be downloaded and become registered with the Store app but not require Store auth in the app (since you're trusting the fact the user was signed in via browser to obtain the appx in first place). Alternatively you could provide another means of providing updates that doesn't rely on the Store app (this would also be nice to have).

One way I can also see this being addressed is allowing Raft to be installed without signing into the Store would be to provide a subscription file (which the user could download if signed into Microsoft Store from browser, perhaps sent to the user's OneDrive account or allow access to the OneDrive associated to the company for specifically that file), which Raft would have a option to drag the file into and read it to activate the subscription. Nessus, Avast, and other companies have a very similar model in place for using subscription files and probably allow for more customers to use Raft without needing to sign into the Store. There's plenty of ways to get a working Raft "offline" using a subscription file. Obviously in cases where it's installed in a network isolated host, Raft would detect it's offline and disable the feature to install from Store (but could provide ability to install Linux distro appx or tar.gz from a file path).

[WSLUser]

@crramirez I know you're busy. Just want to be sure you see this.

[crramirez]

Hello @WSLUser

Yes I saw your comment but I am looking for time to read it with calm and answer you properly. Thanks for the reminder.

Regards,
Carlos

[crramirez]

Hello @WSLUser,

We are planning something similar for the enterprise version of Raft WSL. The license manager file management is complicated and errors prone. We are aiming to use a third-party solution combined with the new tamper-proof features of MSIX. And yes the idea for enterprise customers is to get rid of the Microsoft Store license manager.

Regards,
Carlos

[WSLUser]

Great to hear. Unfortunately the MS Store license manager presents problems for many applications in offline environments so having Raft use a third party solution is much preferable.