An emerging app store could help Ubuntu and Debian push deeper into the consumer and corporate markets, where Linux novices and curious VARs are seeking simple ways to track down, install and evaluate applications. But here’s the twist: The emerging app store, which offers Ubuntu Linux and Debian applications, wasn’t built by Canonical. Here’s the scoop from The VAR Guy.
Still in beta, the store is called apperi. As of July 21, the online destination claimed to have nearly 120,000 indexed packages for Debian 4.0 and 5.0, and Ubuntu 8.04, 8.10 and 9.04. The apperi site also tracks the top 25 software packages — apparently based on user popularity.
No doubt, just about everyone in the software industry has been trying to emulate Apple’s wildly popular App Store — which has managed 1.5 billion downloads, 65,000 applications and 100,000 developers since debuting a year ago.
Shopping for Open Source
Back in Ubuntu and Debian land, apperi isn’t saying much about its own app store strategy. A simple “about us” statement offers this info:
Apperi provides a simple way to search and install applications on your Debian or Ubuntu Linux computer. By using the official repository package lists and apt-url it allows for one-click installation of every official package in it’s supported distributions. Apperi was developed by Ryan Quinn who is also the founder and lead developer of the currently dormant GNU/Linux distro SymphonyOS.
In an effort to monetize the site, apperi seems to be built on an advertising model.
Is this the start of something big? Too soon to say. And there’s no guarantee of success: Don’t forget, Red Hat’s own online exchange for applications has had hit-and-miss results with customers and partners. Ultimately, Red Hat diversified its distribution strategy by co-launching the Open Source Channel Alliance.
Still, an online destination featuring Ubuntu and Debian applications could be different, since Ubuntu is mainly popular as a desktop operating system. The VAR Guy believes the Ubuntu market remains eager for a centralized, commercialized destination that allows users and partners to find, discover, download and install new applications.
Canonical’s own online store contains some Ubuntu-related software, But, um, it leaves much to be desired. And Canonical itself has indicated changes are coming.
In the meantime, apperi is in beta. The VAR Guy is curious to see how the site evolves.
The VAR Guy covers channel partner programs on his own site. Follow WorksWithU via Identi.ca, Twitter and RSS (available now) and our newsletter (coming soon).
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hope it works for us all.
No offense meant – but my appstore is called synaptic – the built in package manager in Ubuntu. Fancy GUI with good search funtion.
brain extender
my to cents
BTW: At the moment namp is first in the top 25 list – so shy?
Sorry, but nothing is special about it.
Actually there is Appnr ( http://appnr.com/ ) which IMHO has a better interface.
But still, it’s just a web interface to browse applications and invoke the local installer. There’s no distribution involved.
How is this any different from Appnr? It seems to show more packages, but it shows them in a much more confusing way.
I’m with brain extender, i don’t get the need for an app store.
I do see the need. I would love to go to a webpage where I can browse the best games, the best web-browsers, etc. There are so many packages in the *buntu repost (which is great), that some times it takes a long time to find what you want. Just search for games in synaptic. Usually I google, try to see if there is a top post for “best of” in a given category. A central place would be great.
Besides that, a place for proprietary options would be nice (niche software that can’t be replaced by open source: accounting software, ver specific engineering, etc)
To be useful, both need to address additional applications an “average” user would want or need after their linux savvy family member or buddy (or local LUG volunteer) has helped them by performing a “complete” linux distro install (by complete I mean including all needed codecs, drivers, and the most reliable and stable apps such as Thunderbird and VLC. Based upon this the top 25 apps are either already likely installed or most are already included in default distro installs. As such neither
http://appnr.com nor http://www.apperi.com
are very helpful at all.
However, having said that the concept is really great and could be really wonderful for average users with more explanations and changes. For example next to codecs it would be helpful to an average user to indicate “if you are already able to play audio CDs, video DVDs, and MP3 files, you already have these codecs installed and do not need to download and install anything furhter.” Further, change the top 25 to be the top 25 not likely included in a default install (or immediately installed following OS installation.)
I’m sorry, but any comparisons between this App Store and Apple’s are (pardon the pun), like comparing apples and oranges.
With the iPhone (and iPod touch), Apple has revolutionized the market for proprietary software that *people will actually pay money for*. It’s a novel platform with great user experience, great market presence, great TV ads featuring great sequences of great features – like voice control.
As for this yet to be seen, open source App Store, I just don’t get it. Unless there’s quietly been thousands of programmers hard at work building tons of apps I would love to install but just haven’t heard of, I think it will fizzle. Ubuntu and Debian aren’t at all the same audience as the iPhone, and their software offerings are a clear indication of that.
What needs to be done is that there needs to be a plugin like Click and Run used to be in Lindows (Before Linspire)
Where like with the iPhone App Store you have a frame work for developers and a frame work for delivery and a way for developers to make money. If there can be new apps made that can sell for $.99 and up like in the App Store and people can make money then it would be good because people would put more effort into making the App Store nice etc.
As it is now and the same with the current version of Click and Run all you end up is with stuff that already comes in most distros and or its out of date!
I actually like the PC BSD approach which is to make the distro lite and let users decide if they want things like Open Office etc.
[...] Ubuntu App Store: Open for Business? Is this the start of something big? Too soon to say. [...]
This is a very nice start! I see a very nice selection of packages, well categorized with (brief) descriptions and a search function, and an integration with the package manager that looks promising.
What’s missing IMHO are the *social* features. The first package I examined was Jython, which I use quite a bit, and its page was really barren. Why can’t I upload screenshots? Set the project website? Write reviews? Provide ratings?
How do I submit new packages? How do I request donations for the (free software) packages I write and submit? Is it possible to sell commercial packages?
Can I create meta-packages (groupings) of packages with a “theme”, so that others can install the entire meta-package with a single click? I’d like (for example) to create a “Python Warrior” package that includes all of my favorite Python tools. *I* would use it when setting up new machines; perhaps others would like it, too.
Where’s my profile page? How do I build a reputation as someone who knows something about Linux software – or inadvertantly reveal that I’m clueless?
It really is a nice start, and I truly appreciate the effort at creating this resource for us all, but no person or small company will be able to adequately cover the vastness of the free software universe.
Please, Ryan, _let_us_help_!!! (And did I say, thanks?)
@ricegf I think you should take a look at allmyapps, it is missing some of the features you are mentioning (like package submission, donation requests…) but social features, screenshots, reviews, ratings, meta-packages (it is callend “application list”) etc… are already there
http://wiki.ubuntu.com/AppCenter
Has anyone seen this?