Hi,

I'm in the processes of building a website, a part of which is for users to submit their own applications.

After using Ubuntu for a few weeks now I wouldn't like to restrict my site to only Windows users.

Site users will be uploading their own applications and I'd love for the app upload/download section to be as Linux friendly as possible. I don't know all the flavors involved and could do with some pointers on that.

I have Googled without much luck. I'd like to create my own repository for apps uploaded, is their a standard to follow? Any links?

Also PPA and RPM packages, I really want to make the site as accessible as possible so converting packages once uploaded would be ok.

I'm looking for some pointers, hints, best practices info etc for hosting Linux software as I don't have a clue yet :-)

Thanks Craig

Linux users can view websites fine. Just make a website with the links for people to download the stuff, along with some description of each software item. Linux people usually don't like overly fancy shmancy stuff, so make it simple. Make it HTML4, possibly with CSS, but no Javascript. Screenshots are usually very welcome. Test the site with the Lynx browser to make sure it's uber-nerd-kosher. That should be all.

Yes there are standards to follow but many distros will work with a basic repository. If you want to follow the correct standards for Debian type systems (Ubuntu, Mint, etc) structure the repository like Debian structures theirs. If you want a repo for RedHat/Fedora type systems structure like they do. We could write a tutorial for you on the structure but there are tons already available on the net anyway. Googling "how to build a Debian Repository" or "how to build a RedHat Repository" should land you plenty of sites with up to date tutorials.

PPA isn't a package type it is a Personal Package Archive (in short its a mini repository), usually but not always hosted on Launchpad for Ubuntu systems. RPM is just RedHat Package Management and if you follow my suggestion above you should be fine there.

I would NOT allow anyone to just upload packages to a repository as it is against the security ideals of the repository system. A repository should only be for trusted uploaders and packages. Understand if you are hosting and something goes wrong and can be traced back to your hosting you are liable, in some jurisdictions, for damages. The whole repository idea, and it is brilliant, has been successful because of careful control of the system. Unlike Windows, where you can download anything and everything from any source and this can cause malware to get in, Linux has careful controls over who can do what to repositories. If you want people to take your repository seriously you need to be very security minded.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you both for the replies this gives me a good place to start.

Cheers

Craig