Zero Install: The Future of Linux on the Desktop?

SiegeX writes "Zero Install ,which is apart of the ROX desktop environment is not just a new packaging system, it's a whole new way of thinking; a way that I believe is exactly what Linux needs to become a serious contender for Joe User's desktop. Zero Install uses an NFS to both run *and* install apps from. The apps are all self-contained in their own directory; binaries, docs, source code and all. Once the app has been downloaded its kept in a cache from that point on to minimize delay. The beauty becomes apparent when Zero Install is combined with ROX which runs the application by just clicking on the directory it was installed to. Deleting the application along with all the other misc files is as simple as removing the directory it's contained in. This method of partitioning applications in their own directories also allows installing multiple versions of any application trivial. This is something even the greatest of technophobes could understand and use with ease."

Someone should tell Apple

[SeanTobin]

Someone should really point this out to Steve. I think using this type on installation on Macs would increase useability by leaps and bounds.

I was afraid slashdot wasn't being slashdot

[HappyCitizen]

We haven't had a "Linux is going to take over the world" story in such a long time....

Right on.

[Anonymous Coward]

Now I can make my X-box even more useful

WBM link

[dioscaido]

Anyone have waybackmachine links to DOS or Mac installation routine instructions? It might help this project a lot!

Re:apps contained in their own directories....

[Kralizec]

Directory contained applications are hardly anything new. Remember DOS? Those days when Microsoft didn't make it impossible to remove an entire application from your computer.

A good idea, here's why...

[heyitsme]

It has been implemented in OS X. This is what happens when you drag a .app file (really, a folder. try to cd into one sometime) and copy it to any point on your hard disk (typically /Applications).

Reminds me of an old joke...

Microsoft: Where do you want to go today?
Linux: Where do you want to go tomorrow?
BSD (in this case, OS X): Are you guys coming or what?!?

If you can make more money, do harm.

[Futurepower(R)]

The full name is "Windows Registry Copy Protection and OS Degradation Scheme". It's part of the "Treat all customers like criminals because some are criminals" Initiative.

Re:Going back in time?

[Kick the Donkey]

Yeah.. Everything is stored in Program Files. Except when things are put into C:\Windows\System32. Or the Registery.

Re:I was afraid slashdot wasn't being slashdot

[ElGnomo]

wow, it almost like your comment doesnt apply at all and youve been waiting to say that for a while.
You blew your load prematurely there buddy. But dont worry, she understands, sure she does...

Linux version of clippy?

[Anonymous Coward]

It looks like you're trying to run an application. Would you like to:

1. Download the latest sourcecode and compile it? (~30 minutes)
2. Download the pre-compiled binary? (~5 minutes)
3. Just use the version you downloaded yesterday? (~1 second)

>3

You've chosen to run the version you downloaded yesterday. Are you SURE you want to do that? There could be a newer version available. You can't call yourself a hacker if you don't have the latest version.

1. Yes I'm sure. Just run the program.
2. I might have mistyped. Show me the options again.
3. Reboot.

>1

Ok, but only because you insist.

Starting "/usr/bin/bash"...

Re:This sounds perfect...

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

--
Member of the Stop Fucking Saying 'M$' army

Hhhm. I think your sig needs to be abbreviated.

You should go with: M$F$M$A

Oh Yeah, Great Idea...

[Jameth]

With fully self-contained apps, we could do away with those silly shared libraries, and we could also just pitch reusing simple programs. Maybe, maybe if we ditched the fifo, we would have finally removed all the flaws in UNIX!

Re:This is also what Microsoft is trying

[Anonymous Coward]

You still Windows?

Re:Similarities to Archimedes

[pigpogm]

I, er... didn't RTFA.

I mustn't be new around here.

Re:Don't bitch to Steve

[Anonymous Coward]

"Bitch to whoever decided that that app should have an installer."

Installers are just a "solution" to make it more difficult to copy an application to a friend ("casual piracy").

Soon they will be asking you to insert an original CD-ROM in order to play a game, and, eventually, they will come with a way to require you to "activate" the software. Oh, wait...

Grammer Trolling my own post

[spun]

I hate it when people don't use apostrophes correctly. It's one of my pet peeves. "It's" gets an apostrophe when it's a contraction of "it is," and loses its apostrophe when it is possesive.

I even previewed, but it's an easy one to miss.