Re: Package distribution, a concept for a modern package distribution
> On Fri, Jun 24, 2005 at 06:14:46PM +0200, Otto Wyss wrote:
> > The concept is based on an LDAP server (or simiar) as a replacement for
> > the Packages file and on a P2P network for package distribution (see
> > http://wyodesktop.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=pkgdist.html). IMO it
> > would make a lot sense if this concept is discussed at the Debconf5.
>
> i actually wrote something that exported a local mirror/server's Packages.gz
> file into an LDAP directory[1], as well as wrote the beginnings of an
> add-on method to apt to query this server. as far as speed/transfer
> efficiency goes, we're an order or two of magnitude at the very least.
> however, there hasn't seemed to be much interest from others in my
> continuing it, so i've been focusing on other things lately.
>
I've seen some messages about an LDAP implementation around last october
but I couldn't find them. I'm quite sure an LDAP solution is much better
than the current solution. But before implementing it, it has to be
evaluated against other way so it's truely the best.
> also, there's a limitation in apt that it expects the list of
> packages to be retrieved through the same method as the packages
> themselves, which would get a little hairy with LDAP (you don't want to
> be holding the packages themselves, in LDAP of course). there could
> be a quick-hack workaround for this by having ldap-ftp/ldap-http methods
> that wrap around the ftp/http for the actual fetching, but a real fix
> would be to patch apt to allow for this. such a patch would also make
> it easier to distribute the packages list via other methodst too.
>
I wouldn't base any work on apt but start a complete new way of package
distribution. The advantage is the stabe apt will keep on working while
the new solution won't be hampered by any current limitation. IMO a P2P
network would be a much better solution but yet again it has to be
checked if it this is really true or if there are better alternatives.
> anyway if there are more people interested in working on this, i'd be
> willing to put my code in cvs/svn and start up an alioth project.
>
The best way to start a new package distribution is to name a place
where it can be discussed off Debian-devel. Since this concept probably
has many more implications, like what about Debian installer etc, I
think it would make a lot of sense to first collect any pros and cons
and discuss them at Debconf5 and possibly on a list. Since I can't
attend Debconf5 myself I'd appreciate if someone could keep track of the
discussion there and forward it to the list.
So the first action should be to set up or name this package
distribution list and start collecting arguments there.
Besides, until a better place is found I'll keep
"http://wyodesktop.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=pkgdist.html"; updated,
so you may send any input to the wyodesktop-users list or directly to me
(list would be better because less spam prone).
O. Wyss
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