Custom web browser protocol to install from apt-get

[Jason Taylor]

> a) A simple gui deb installer for 3rd party software that isn't in any
> official repository.
>      Note: I agree that installing directly from the web is a bad idea, but
> you shouldn't have to resort to the console to do it.
Agree im pretty sure this is being taken care of for dapper

> b)  Something like ThirdPartyApt to provide easy installation from
> repositories.
>      Note: Allowing the addition of generic repositories auto-magically is a
> huge security hole. Bigger than single click .deb installation. Who knows
> what evils could lurk on unofficial repositories. A slightly patched kernel
> update perhaps? This problem can be fixed simply by white listing allowed
> repositories or disallowing repository addition. IMHO Web-clickable apt-get
> installing would be a good idea.


> c) A repository browsing protocol e.g. apt://
>      Note: apt-get is not a protocol and shouldn't be turned into one as
> some of the posts seem to be suggesting. On the other hand a protocol for
> browsing a repository would be nice. Currently you can view repositories or
> rather the files they contain by simply pointing your browser at the http://
> address. If you pointed you browser at the same location, but used apt://,
> that information could be overlayed with the package meta-data, so you could
> view the packages dependencies before you download it, etc. Kinda like you
> can do at packages.debian.org.
Why would a user (think grandma) want to browse a repositry?? Dont
they just want to install the software, they dont care about
dependencies

I think there are two issues coming out here,
a) The original idea to be able to install software from apt with out
having to use the CLI or open synaptic.

b) Thired party software is dificult if not impossible for a new linux
user to install, but this is offset by the security gains of users not
installing random files from the web.