aptgetinstallprotocol

Revision 29 as of 2006-03-31 07:42:44

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Apt-Get Web Install

Summary

NO direct link mechanism exists from a web page DIRECTLY to the package in Synaptic.

It would be nice if you could click on a url in a web page (http://install.ubuntu.com?package=foo or aptgetinstall://package@repo) and trigger package install using apt-get from the systems set repository list

Rationale

At the momment the forum and wiki is full of cut and paste this command 'sudo foo foo foo'. New linux users have no idea what these commands do and so could be considered a security risk (sudo rm -R-f /). As well as the obvious fact that they actully have to open a terminal window.

Its that or - Webpage - You should try Epiphany its much better than FF - User clicks "applications menu" - User clicks 'add applications' - User enters sudo password clicks ok - Enters name in search field clicks search - Selects package - Clicks Apply - Click Apply again

or the gnome-install-app version

  • - Webpage - You should try Epiphany its much better than FF - User clicks "applications menu" - User clicks 'add applications' - User enters sudo password clicks ok - Enters name in search field clicks search - Selects package - Clicks Apply - Click Apply again

Saying click this link http://install.ubuntu.com?package=foo is a lot nicer and cleaner

NOTE : Add applications is a great start but it only covers a small part of the ubuntu packages

Use cases

  • Wiki howto gives instructions on how to apt-get packages
  • Forum users give instructions on how to apt-get packages
  • Email grandma an apt-get-install link to enable her to install that bridge game she wants
  • Bert fresh from switching from that 'other OS' is used to installing applications from web pages, he has never used a cli and dosnt want too.

Scope

  • Will only apt-get install packages in the existing repo lists does not cover adding new repositires (although user should be prompted with the details of the repo they need to add with a nice warning)
  • Keep It Simple, protocol only allows simple 'install' any thing else is advanced user and can still be done through CLI

  • Should allow a list of packages to be installed ie http://install.ubuntu.com?package=foo&package=foo2

  • apt-get install is the only command to be 'web enabled'

Design

  • Check if sudo avalible for user and alert error message if not
  • Should prompt for sudo
  • Should display a nice progress bar
  • If package is not avalible in the current sources repositories an alert should state so.
  • If package is already installed an alert should say so

  • Use file/mimetype defined by ThirdPartyApt

Implementation

Easy ubuntu already demonstrates a method for tying into synaptic so the user gets a progress bar for download and install.

A web script will be required to generate a ThirdPartyApt file for every package in the Ubuntu Repos

Comments

KillerKiwi :: Im wavering back to just using a stright protocol... aptgetinstall://application@repo as it is so much easier to add to web pages....