AptUrlRedirector

Differences between revisions 2 and 3
⇤ ← Revision 2 as of 2009-09-21 13:12:12 →
Size: 1355
Editor: eth0
Comment: moves non-essential JS stuff to "Future enhancements"
← Revision 3 as of 2009-09-21 13:20:17 → ⇥
Size: 1799
Editor: eth0
Comment: various revisions
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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 There should be a simple Web service, 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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 * Canonical CTO Matt Zimmermann wrote [[http://mdzlog.alcor.net/2009/06/27/apturl-quick-links-for-ubuntu-application/|an item on his Web site]] extolling the virtues of `apt:` URLs for making Ubuntu software easy to install, only to discover that “Word``Press completely destroys the apt: links in this post.”
 * 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.		  * Canonical CTO Matt Zimmermann wants to be able to write [[http://mdzlog.alcor.net/2009/06/27/apturl-quick-links-for-ubuntu-application/|an item on his Web site]] extolling the virtues of `apt:` URLs for making Ubuntu software easy to install, without giving up after “Word``Press completely destroys the apt: links in this post.”
 * Someone answering questions on Launchpad Answers wants to make it as easy as possible for the person they’re helping to install a particular package, despite [[http://launchpad.net/bugs/179868|Launchpad still not linkifying apt: URLs]] nearly two years after it was first requested.
 * Someone providing help on Twitter wants to make it as easy as possible for the person they’re helping to people to install a particular package, despite Twitter not linkifying `apt:` URLs. (A few URL-shortening services do, but many don’t, and it’s tedious to work out which is which.)

There should be a simple Web service, 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 wants to be able to write an item on his Web site extolling the virtues of apt: URLs for making Ubuntu software easy to install, without giving up after “WordPress completely destroys the apt: links in this post.”

  • Someone answering questions on Launchpad Answers wants to make it as easy as possible for the person they’re helping to install a particular package, despite Launchpad still not linkifying apt: URLs nearly two years after it was first requested.

  • Someone providing help on Twitter wants to make it as easy as possible for the person they’re helping to people to install a particular package, despite Twitter not linkifying apt: URLs. (A few URL-shortening services do, but many don’t, and it’s tedious to work out which is which.)

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)