title: Suggestions for implementing a very simple updater that checks for a new version
body: <p>I want to add a very very simple auto updater to my apps.  I want to start with the simplest thing that'll work. </p>
  
  <p>Any suggestions of how to do this?
  Any suggestions of improvements (or an alternative)  to the option below?</p>
  
  <p>Here's one option I'm considering.  </p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>App displays a form that offers to
  check for a new version, with option
  to check again every X days.</li>
  <li>If user clicks "check now" it
  launches a web page
  <em>www.mysite.com/CheckNewVersion.asp?AppID=&lt;>?AppVersion=&lt;></em></li>
  <li>The ASP script has a list of all the
  program IDs and the currently
  available versions.  IT then shows
  them either a page saying "No new
  versions available" or "New version
  with XYZ features/fixes" (and either
  "Free update" or "pay here").</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>This gives 80% of the benefit of auto updating with only 10% of the cost.  If no one clicks on the autoupdate (and I suspect that's a possibility as people don't want to be bothered) then it's pointless to make it any simpler. There's no way to make it so simple that they don't have to at least click the "update" button.</p>
  
  <p>BTW, I do realize that there is a similar question on SO but that didn't discuss the implementation details. It seemed more theoretical and aimed at a more sophisticated solution.</p>