AptUrlRedirector

Differences between revisions 1 and 2
⇤ ← Revision 1 as of 2009-08-26 18:08:50 →
Size: 1057
Editor: eth0
Comment: the basic outline
← Revision 2 as of 2009-09-21 13:12:12 → ⇥
Size: 1355
Editor: eth0
Comment: moves non-essential JS stuff to "Future enhancements"
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
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There should be a simple Web site, probably `apt.ubuntu.com`, that on any URL following a recognized pattern, ''e.g.'' `http://apt.ubuntu.com/p/abiword`, detects whether you are running Ubuntu. If you are, it should There should be a simple Web site, probably `apt.ubuntu.com`, that on any URL following the pattern `http://apt.ubuntu.com/p/abiword`, detects from your User-Agent string whether you are running Ubuntu. If you are, it should
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 1. `<meta refresh>` to the equivalent `apt:abiword` link
 1. if the current window has no back history, close the window; otherwise, go back one page.		  1. `<meta refresh>` to the equivalent `apt:` link, e.g. `apt:abiword`.
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 * Nearly two years after it was first requested, [[http://launchpad.net/bugs/179868|Launchpad does not support apt: URLs]], and there’s no sign of this changing.

== Future enhancements ==

 * Once the redirect has happened, if the current window has no back history (''i.e.'' it was opened just for this purpose), close the window; otherwise, go back one page.

There should be a simple Web site, probably apt.ubuntu.com, that on any URL following the pattern http://apt.ubuntu.com/p/abiword, detects from your User-Agent string whether you are running Ubuntu. If you are, it should

  1. display a “One moment, please…” page

  2. <meta refresh> to the equivalent apt: link, e.g. apt:abiword.

If you are not running Ubuntu, it should

  1. display a boilerplate page advising that you can install this package if you install Ubuntu.

Rationale

There are thousands of Weblog systems, forums, wikis, and other CMSes that do not recognize apt: links, and most of them never will.

User stories

  • Canonical CTO Matt Zimmermann wrote an item on his Web site extolling the virtues of apt: URLs for making Ubuntu software easy to install, only to discover that “WordPress completely destroys the apt: links in this post.”

  • Nearly two years after it was first requested, Launchpad does not support apt: URLs, and there’s no sign of this changing.

Future enhancements

  • Once the redirect has happened, if the current window has no back history (i.e. it was opened just for this purpose), close the window; otherwise, go back one page.

AptUrlRedirector (last edited 2010-12-15 12:35:02 by eth0)