DSCv3: installMode 'silent' uses SilentWithProgress switches instead of Silent

[denelon]

This issue was filed with GitHub Copilot assistance.

Relevant area(s)

• DSC Resource
• WinGet CLI

Relevant command(s)

• winget dscv3

Brief description of your issue

When using a DSC v3 configuration file with installMode: silent specified for a package resource, WinGet uses SilentWithProgress switches instead of true Silent switches. For Inno Setup packages (e.g., Visual Studio Code), this results in /SILENT being passed to the installer rather than /VERYSILENT, causing a progress UI to appear.

Additionally, the manifest's Custom switch (/mergetasks=!runcode for VS Code) is not appended to the installer arguments.

Configuration files are designed for unattended, non-interactive operation. When a user specifies installMode: silent, they expect a truly silent experience with no UI. The current behavior defeats the purpose of specifying silent mode in a configuration.

Steps to reproduce

1. Create a DSC v3 configuration file (e.g., VSCode.winget) with the following content:

$schema: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PowerShell/DSC/main/schemas/2023/08/config/document.json
metadata:
  winget:
    processor:
      identifier: dscv3
resources:
- type: Microsoft.WinGet/Package
  name: VSCode
  properties:
    id: Microsoft.VisualStudioCode
    source: winget
    useLatest: true
    installMode: silent
  metadata:
    description: Ensure Latest Version of Visual Studio Code is installed

2. Run: winget configure <path-to-config>
3. Observe the installer arguments in the WinGet log at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\DiagOutputDir\

Expected behavior

Installer should be invoked with the Silent switches for the installer type (Inno in this case):

VSCodeSetup.exe /SP- /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /mergetasks=!runcode

• /VERYSILENT = true silent (no UI)
• /mergetasks=!runcode = manifest Custom switch, should always be appended

Actual behavior

Installer is invoked with SilentWithProgress switches:

VSCodeSetup.exe /SP- /SILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART

• /SILENT = shows progress bar (not truly silent)
• Manifest Custom switch /mergetasks=!runcode is missing from arguments

Environment

Windows Package Manager v1.29.210.0
Windows: Windows.Desktop v10.0.26621.0
Package: Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.29.210.0

Additional context

The issue appears to be in how the DSCv3 package resource maps installMode: silent to the installer switch selection. The code in ShellExecuteInstallerHandler.cpp defaults to InstallerSwitchType::SilentWithProgress and only uses InstallerSwitchType::Silent when explicitly requested via --silent. The DSCv3 path may not be setting this flag correctly.

Relevant code paths:

• src/AppInstallerCLICore/Workflows/ShellExecuteInstallerHandler.cpp:81-142
• src/AppInstallerCommonCore/Manifest/ManifestCommon.cpp:1033-1061 (default switches)
• src/AppInstallerCLICore/Commands/DscPackageResource.cpp (installMode mapping)

[JohnMcPMS]

I tried with Microsoft.Azd and I see it's custom args. I think I need your logs to better understand the scenario that prevented you from getting them.