When Big Picture Is Not a Fit

Big Picture is designed for software vendors shipping evergreen desktop applications with release governance and licensing needs. There are scenarios where Big Picture may not be the right solution.

When Big Picture is not appropriate

Mobile or web-only applications

• Big Picture focuses on desktop applications (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Mobile app stores handle updates and distribution differently
• Web applications typically use different deployment models

Single-tenant, on-premise only deployments

• Big Picture is optimized for multi-tenant SaaS or vendor self-host scenarios
• If you only deploy to a single customer’s infrastructure with no multi-tenancy needs, Big Picture may be over-engineered

Applications without update requirements

• If your application does not require regular updates or evergreen deployment
• If updates are handled entirely through manual processes or third-party tools

Applications without licensing needs

• If you don’t need license governance, floating licenses, or lease-based licensing
• If licensing is handled entirely through other systems (e.g., SaaS subscription platforms)

Very simple update scenarios

• If you only need basic self-update functionality for a single application
• Update frameworks like Squirrel, Sparkle, or WinSparkle may be sufficient

Enterprise IT teams managing third-party software

• Big Picture is designed for software vendors shipping their own products
• Enterprise IT teams managing third-party software may be better served by tools like Flexera, Intune, or SCCM

Applications requiring extensive IP protection

• Big Picture provides licensing and release governance, not comprehensive IP protection suites
• If you need advanced obfuscation, anti-tampering, or DRM features, consider specialized IP protection platforms

Organizations requiring extensive ITAM integration

• Big Picture focuses on vendor release governance and licensing
• If you need deep integration with IT Asset Management (ITAM) systems, Software Asset Management (SAM) workflows, or procurement systems, Flexera or similar platforms may be more appropriate

Alternative solutions by scenario

Mobile applications

• Use platform-specific app stores (App Store, Google Play)
• Consider mobile-specific update frameworks if needed

Simple desktop applications

• Consider update frameworks: Squirrel (Windows), Sparkle (macOS), WinSparkle (Windows)
• These provide basic self-update functionality without enterprise governance

Enterprise IT managing third-party software

• Consider Flexera Software Vulnerability Manager for patch workflows
• Consider Intune or SCCM for endpoint deployment
• Consider FlexNet or RLM for licensing if needed separately

Extensive IP protection needs

• Consider Thales Sentinel or similar IP protection platforms
• Big Picture can complement these but does not replace them

ITAM/SAM integration requirements

• Consider Flexera or similar ITAM platforms
• Big Picture focuses on vendor-side release governance, not enterprise ITAM

When to reconsider Big Picture

Even if your initial assessment suggests Big Picture isn’t a fit, reconsider if:

• You plan to expand to multi-tenant scenarios
• You need vendor-controlled mirrors for regulated customers
• You want to integrate release governance with licensing
• You need explicit tenant policy and staging controls
• You require modern, signed update decisioning

Getting help

If you’re unsure whether Big Picture is right for your scenario, consider:

• Reviewing Big Picture’s core capabilities and use cases
• Comparing Big Picture to alternatives in the comparisons section
• Evaluating whether your requirements align with Big Picture’s strengths