getdeb-collaboration team mailing list archive

[Emilio López <buhitoescolar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

About 5), we might be able to get more site impressions by allowing the user
to install a simple package to add the repo for them, and then make getdeb
use apturl. Or another thing we could do is, autodetect if the user has
installed the package that adds the repo: if he did, use apturl; if not,
continue offering normal links to debs, just like now.

Emilio

2009/3/5 Peter van der Does <peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

> On Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:38:03 +0000
> João Luís Marques Pinto <joao.pinto@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Hello all,
> >
> > One of the most frequently requested features for getdeb.net is the
> > ability to install the packages from a repository. Despite the clear
> > advantages of using a repository there were some issues that made it
> > unsuitable for us.
> >
> > On the last couple of months most of those issues have been resolved
> > with changes/improvements that will be available on Ubuntu 9.04. With
> > 2 months left for its release this is the right time to reevaluate
> > the change to an APT repository distribution method.
> >
> > Advantages
> > - Security / integrity verification for packages (GPG signed
> > repository)
> > - Automatic updates
> > - Install multi-package applications with a single click
> > - Provide packages with additional dependencies not available on the
> > official repositories
> >
> > Disadvantages
> > - Updates will be recommended for all packages making hard to apply
> > only specific packages updates
> > - Faulty packages will have a wider impact
> > - Installing a package forces a repositories info update (to ensure
> > you will get the latest version installed)
> > - Reverting to a previous installed version is harder (requires an
> > unusual force version command or Synaptic)
> >
> > Implementation
> > The implementation will require some technical changes that will need
> > to be implemented on the next 2 months:
> > - Database model needs to be simplified (instead of listing files we
> > only need to list package names and provide APT urls)
> > - A server side mirror selection script must be implemented to
> > redirect APT file requests to available/updated mirrors
> > - A debian package must be provided to setup the repository, add
> > custom APT config and install the GPG keyring
> >
> > The decision to change to a repository or keep with the current
> > (.deb) system must be taken, as providing both methods is not an
> > option (release management would be much harder, not enough human
> > resources to handle it).
> >
> > I would like to see your opinions/suggestions.
> >
>
> I don't know what the improvements/changes are that are coming in 9.04
> that will make it possible to have a repository, so I will look at the
> questions in a way as the setup of the repository is the same as it
> now.
>
> Of course all the advantages are good things, that's why they are called
> advantages. I'll focus a bit more on the Disadvantages.
>
> 1. Updates will be recommended for all packages making hard to apply
> only specific packages updates.
> Yes this is true. It's a choice you make as a user for adding our
> repository.
>
>
> 2. Faulty packages will have a wider impact.
> I would like to expand this one which makes it even "scarier". Updated
> packages will have a wider impact. Uhhh what you mean by that. If a
> GetDeb package requires an updated library of some sort, it could
> impact packages from the official repository.
> Let's say package GetDeb package X requires an updated library and we
> are able to provide this package.
> The library is also used by other packages we don't provide and some of
> them could fail with the updated library.
>
>
> 3. Installing a package forces a repositories info update (to ensure
> you will get the latest version installed)
> That's just the way it works. People don't always get latest software
> from the official repository either when do an install. We can educate
> people on the site about
> this.
>
>
> 4. Reverting to a previous installed version is harder (requires an
> unusual force version command or Synaptic)
> Why would you want to revert to an older version? If it's broken file a
> bug and we need to fix it. This can be prevented by better testing,
> which unfortunately we can't do due to the lack of resources.
>
> I would like to add a 5th disadvantage of moving to a repository.
> 5. Monetary loss.
> Although this is not a disadvantage for a user it's surely is a
> disadvantage for the project. Currently the project receives income
> from the advertisements displayed on the site, not just from people
> clicking on the advertisements but also the amount of impressions an
> advertisement gets. This money is used for paying the hosting provider.
> By using a repository you will not get as many returning visitors
> which means less impressions resulting in less income. They will add the
> repository and probably never visit the site again. I have the PPA of
> claws-mail added and I can't for the life of me remember when the last
> time I visited their site.
>
>
> --
> Peter van der Does
>
> GPG key: E77E8E98
>
> WordPress Plugin Developer
> http://blog.avirtualhome.com
>
> GetDeb Package Builder/GetDeb Site Coder
> http://www.getdeb.net - Software you want for Ubuntu
>
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