"Curtis Knight, Isak Savo, and Taj Morton are the lead maintainers and developers of autopackage, a set of tools designed to let developers build and distribute distribution-neutral installation packages. In this interview, they share their vision of the project and where Linux packaging in general is going."
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Member since:2006-01-27
Member since:2005-06-29
Member since:2006-01-11
Member since:2006-01-19
Otherwise, installing a package is simple already, just launch your favorite package manager, type the name of your application, click "Install", wait 5 minutes and you're done.
I love these replies. They are such a dead end. It's simply not possible to put all applications out there in the repository of your favorite package manager. Sometimes because the software is commercial and sometimes just because there's no packager for it.
Most of the time you end up with either the source code with ridiculous build and/or issue solving times, or a flaky package with a custom solution.
Kind of ironic. People praise OSS not only for freedom, but als for standards. Well, having the need to install your required software from three different package managers, a custom installer solution and from source, surely ain't no standard at all.
Five minutes? Simple? Quick? Pah, if you're lucky and use your average OSS software only: yes. When you've got different needs than tweaking settings, watching windows burn (yes, pun intended), programming or browsing the web, you're usually f--ked.
Member since:2006-02-15
Most of the time you end up with either the source code with ridiculous build and/or issue solving times, or a flaky package with a custom solution.
I do compile stuff from sources every now and then and it is usually just "./configure --prefix=/usr;make;make install"..Not really that hard 
On a binary distro you have to install gcc and the corresponding -dev packages but even that doesn't really take long.
Kind of ironic. People praise OSS not only for freedom, but als for standards. Well, having the need to install your required software from three different package managers, a custom installer solution and from source, surely ain't no standard at all.
The only universal method of distributing an app is sources.. I do admit it's a bit awkward, especially for the less experienced, but it can't be helped. Distros differ too much from one another. And there will never be only one distro left which everyone would use.
Member since:2005-10-18
Otherwise, installing a package is simple already, just launch your favorite package manager, type the name of your application, click "Install", wait 5 minutes and you're done.
That is, provided you have the app (or the version of it that you need) in the repository.
Also, packaging for multiple distribution means work duplication, and probability of introducing packaging-related bugs is higher.
Moreover, with a single binary package, you have more chances to get a specific bug fixed upstream rather than going through the distro bugzilla route.
Member since:
2005-06-29
The only advantage of Autopackage is for people who don't have access to the Internet. They can go to a cybercafe, grab themselves a few packages on a USB flash key, and when they arrive at home, they can copy the packages and install them without the need for a connection to the Internet. This would be a lot more painful with RPMs for instance.
Otherwise, installing a package is simple already, just launch your favorite package manager, type the name of your application, click "Install", wait 5 minutes and you're done.