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[Python] Py3 Find latest installed program on system

#!python3
import winreg
def latest_installed_program(software_name, search_64_first=True, first_call = True):
    """Try to find the latest installed version of a specified program on the system

    Args:
        software_name (string): name of the software to look for (3ds Max, Autodesk Maya etc.)

        search_64_first (int): where to check first, if you know it's going to be  winreg.KEY_WOW64_32KEY then put 

        first_call (bool): Don't set this manually.
    Returns:
        dictionary: dictionary with the latest program info in it.

    Example usage:
    latest_installed_program("3ds Max", True )
    """
    win_flag = None
    if search_64_first:
        win_flag = winreg.KEY_WOW64_64KEY 
    else:
        win_flag = winreg.KEY_WOW64_32KEY

    hive=winreg.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

    aReg = winreg.ConnectRegistry(None, hive)
    icons = r"HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\""
    aKey = winreg.OpenKey(aReg, r"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall",
                          0, winreg.KEY_READ | win_flag)

    count_subkey = winreg.QueryInfoKey(aKey)[0]
    #way to make it so we don't infinite loop

    latest_version = {}
    latest_version["version"] = 0

    for i in range(count_subkey):
        software = {}
        try:
            asubkey_name = winreg.EnumKey(aKey, i)
            asubkey = winreg.OpenKey(aKey, asubkey_name)
            name = winreg.QueryValueEx(asubkey, "DisplayName")[0]
            if software_name.lower() in name.lower():
                software['name'] = name
                try:
                    software['version'] = winreg.QueryValueEx(asubkey, "DisplayVersion")[0]
                except EnvironmentError:
                    software['version'] = 'undefined'
                try:
                    software['publisher'] = winreg.QueryValueEx(asubkey, "Publisher")[0]
                except EnvironmentError:
                    software['publisher'] = 'undefined'
                try:
                    software['path'] = "{}".format(winreg.QueryValueEx(asubkey, "InstallLocation")[0])
                except EnvironmentError:
                    software['path'] = 'undefined'

                if software["version"] > str(latest_version["version"]) or latest_version["version"] == 0:
                    latest_version = software

        except EnvironmentError:
            continue
    #search the other flag
    if search_64_first:
        search_64_first = False
    else:
        search_64_first = True

    if first_call and latest_version["version"] == 0:
        latest_version = latest_installed_program(software_name, search_64_first, False)

    return latest_version


latest_installed_program("Autodesk Maya")
latest_installed_program("3ds Max")
latest_installed_program("Photoshop")


"""
returns
#3ds Max {'version': '20.4.0.4254', 'publisher': 'Autodesk', 'path': 'C:\\Program Files\\Autodesk\\3ds Max 2018\\', 'name': 'Autodesk 3ds Max 2018'}
Autodesk Maya {'version': '18.0.0.5870', 'publisher': 'Autodesk', 'path': 'D:\\Program Files\\Autodesk\\Maya2018\\', 'name': 'Autodesk Maya 2018'}
Photoshop {'version': '20.0.1', 'publisher': 'Adobe Systems Incorporated', 'path': 'C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019', 'name': 'Adobe Photoshop CC 2019'}
"""

Last update: March 31, 2023