Custom web browser protocol to install from apt-get

[Tristan Wibberley]

Crossposted to sounder again, please reply there.

Jamie Jones wrote:
> On Mon, 2006-03-20 at 09:59 +0000, Who wrote:
>> On 3/19/06, Jason Taylor <killerkiwi2005 at gmail.com> wrote:

>>> As a bonus maybe also apt-get-add-repo://
>>>
>>> Another use, the applications web site could actully give a link for
>>> installing the application instead of a "avalible in dapper repo"
>>>
>>> Anybody else think this would be usefull, users would never have to
>>> drop to command line you could have links on the howto page
>>> instead.....

>> I think this would make a _world_ of difference to many Windows users
>> who are _used_ to downloading programs from internet sites, and who
>> don't really get the whole repository idea!

> I don't think it is such a good idea myself. This has a fantastic
> potential for installing rootkits and other malware on an ubuntu system.
> It takes all of 10 seconds to make a .deb that will erase your entire
> system as soon as it is installed. It also opens up the real possibility
> of linux based viruses to have an environment to thrive in, because when
> installing these applications, it is installed with root privileges.

I think adding repositories could be a dangerous thing, but when faced 
with a deb, some users would just install it. A link that only installs 
from the preconfigured repositories would be a sure winner though, what 
would you say to that (I've made it work - even with data: urls from 
xchat after some hacking about).

It still needs lots of work and a GUI, so this should go to sounder.

-- 
Tristan Wibberley