Generic Software Distribution and Deployment

Along with general advances in computing, and the §Internet, the complexity of distributing software §poses more and more of a challenge. It is §particularly difficult for software providers §(developers) who wish to deliver software to multiple §platforms, since the deployment technologies are so §different. Just for Linux, there are several §platform-specific technologies. As a result, many §(opensource) projects just leave it to others to §package their software for installation on specific §platforms. This results in more complexity on the §user''s end, however. We aim to streamline the process §of delivering software by developing a common system §for distribution and deployment (on users''s systems), §called PyPkg. It is currently Linux only, but should §with time also support other major desktop platforms. §PyPkg''s design is analyzed with regard to competing §technologies such as APT and Autopackage. This book §should prove useful to developers who are themselves §working on facilities for software distribution §and/or deployment, or someone with an interest in §studying this kind of system.