System proxy support

[0utsidethebox]

Relevant area(s)

WinGet CLI

Description of the new feature / enhancement

winget should support the system proxy server (see KB5014256).

Currently, the proxy use is impossible under the standard user, unless an administrator explicitly configures it. On the contrary, the system proxy is a standard user setting by default. Yet it is fully controllable by an administrator via the group policy, eg "Prevent changing proxy settings".

Proposed technical implementation details

1. Unlike the ProxyCommandLineOptions setting, the system proxy support should NOT be locked down by the administrative settings.

2. winget should behave as follows:

• if the system proxy is configured, winget should use it by default
• a command line parameter --no-system-proxy should be implemented to allow bypassing system proxy, which is the current behavior
• if an existing parameter --proxy is specified on the command line, it must override the system proxy

Note. If using the system proxy by default is considered too radical of a change, an alternative approach is also acceptable: just implement the --use-system-proxy parameter.

3. Optionally, the winget group policy "Disallow use of system proxy" can be implemented.