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So, there are multiple approaches to Linux software distribution (for free-as-in-beer closed-source software, like the Minecraft client, Skype, Chrome or Steam)

So, there are multiple approaches to Linux software distribution (for free-as-in-beer closed-source software, like the Minecraft client, Skype, Chrome or Steam): 1. Pump out versioned tarballs, and let distro maintainers deal with packaging. 2. Create a very thin launcher, and deal with updates yourself in the Launcher. Minecraft does this. 3. Provide package repositories for Ubuntu and Fedora and deal with updates yourself. Chrome does this. I think (1) and (2) are preferable. (1) is also the easiest to implement (!), but may result in delayed distribution to the end user. It is possible to mix (1) and (3), of course.

fromhet 14y ago
The chromium project releases their updates for Ubuntu users thru a PPA, but Canonical also distributes stable packages. A mix that is working really well. God forbid #2, a system-wide system for downloading and updating applications is one of the zen-things about using the Linux-based OS's. How it works on Mac OS X and is chaotical, and the way Microsoft does it, with countless messy installers and self-updating apps is hell to deal with.
- aristidb 14y ago
  Well, Steam is by necessity an independent package manager. So you can't really have that Zen if you want to use it. Might as well update itself, too. ;)
  - pinkbucket 14y ago
    That old ye problem of how to deal with package managers dealing with package managers.
  - obtu 14y ago
    To pinkbucket: you seem to have been hell-banned when your account was new. You will need a new account. My condolences.
Corrado 14y ago
Honestly, I dislike the way Chrome works on Ubuntu. I don't like using PPAs and I'm never sure how/when Chrome gets updated. Sometimes it seems like the OS does it and sometimes it seems the Chrome updates itself (just like on other platforms). Maybe its just me. So, I think my vote for how Valve updates would be (2). Give the Linux vendors something to package but since they move very slowly you need to be able to fix bugs in a timely manor.
- freehunter 14y ago
  In my experience with Ubuntu, Chrome gets updated through Update Manager like everything else.
morsch 14y ago
(3) is much easier to implement for Ubuntu due to PPAs. It's also the most convenient for the users, although trusting a wide range of PPAs is somewhat of a security issue.
- Tuna-Fish 14y ago
  It's also an usability nightmare, as a lot of things that Steam is used for both update very often (weekly to daily), and always need to be kept updated to the newest version or they fail to start. You'd have to run a apt-get update && apt-get upgrade every time you launch your favourite game. Most likely, Valve will provide a steam_installer.deb, which depends on all platform libraries Steam needs, and which only contains a script that creates the necessary users and rights, reserves some directory for steam, fetches the actual Steam off a Valve site, authenticates it, and runs it.
  - jiggy2011 14y ago
    Steam has it's own usability issues though. For example it won't let me play a game and download a game at the same time. I guess this is for performance reasons, but I'm sure my PC can run Braid and do some disk IO at the same time. I also can't find a way to have different games installed on different partitions/drives. This would be very useful if you have an SSD but can't fit all of your games onto it.
    - Tuna-Fish 14y ago
      > I also can't find a way to have different games installed on different partitions/drives. This would be very useful if you have an SSD but can't fit all of your games onto it. You can do this by moving the directories in question into the other disk, and then creating a junction (symbolic link) from the original location to the new one. On windows 7: mklink /j "path/to/steam/steamapps/common/gamefolder" "path/to/the/other/disk/gamefolder"
      - jiggy2011 14y ago
        Thanks, will try that. Shame this isn't made a bit easier.
Flimm 14y ago
For Ubuntu, you can release closed-source software in the Ubuntu Software Centre.
- obtu 14y ago
  Also PPA-based, by the way.

fromhet 14y ago

The chromium project releases their updates for Ubuntu users thru a PPA, but Canonical also distributes stable packages. A mix that is working really well. God forbid #2, a system-wide system for downloading and updating applications is one of the zen-things about using the Linux-based OS's. How it works on Mac OS X and is chaotical, and the way Microsoft does it, with countless messy installers and self-updating apps is hell to deal with.

aristidb 14y ago
Well, Steam is by necessity an independent package manager. So you can't really have that Zen if you want to use it. Might as well update itself, too. ;)
- pinkbucket 14y ago
  That old ye problem of how to deal with package managers dealing with package managers.
- obtu 14y ago
  To pinkbucket: you seem to have been hell-banned when your account was new. You will need a new account. My condolences.

Corrado 14y ago

Honestly, I dislike the way Chrome works on Ubuntu. I don't like using PPAs and I'm never sure how/when Chrome gets updated. Sometimes it seems like the OS does it and sometimes it seems the Chrome updates itself (just like on other platforms). Maybe its just me. So, I think my vote for how Valve updates would be (2). Give the Linux vendors something to package but since they move very slowly you need to be able to fix bugs in a timely manor.

freehunter 14y ago
In my experience with Ubuntu, Chrome gets updated through Update Manager like everything else.

morsch 14y ago

(3) is much easier to implement for Ubuntu due to PPAs. It's also the most convenient for the users, although trusting a wide range of PPAs is somewhat of a security issue.

Tuna-Fish 14y ago
It's also an usability nightmare, as a lot of things that Steam is used for both update very often (weekly to daily), and always need to be kept updated to the newest version or they fail to start. You'd have to run a apt-get update && apt-get upgrade every time you launch your favourite game. Most likely, Valve will provide a steam_installer.deb, which depends on all platform libraries Steam needs, and which only contains a script that creates the necessary users and rights, reserves some directory for steam, fetches the actual Steam off a Valve site, authenticates it, and runs it.
- jiggy2011 14y ago
  Steam has it's own usability issues though. For example it won't let me play a game and download a game at the same time. I guess this is for performance reasons, but I'm sure my PC can run Braid and do some disk IO at the same time. I also can't find a way to have different games installed on different partitions/drives. This would be very useful if you have an SSD but can't fit all of your games onto it.
  - Tuna-Fish 14y ago
    > I also can't find a way to have different games installed on different partitions/drives. This would be very useful if you have an SSD but can't fit all of your games onto it. You can do this by moving the directories in question into the other disk, and then creating a junction (symbolic link) from the original location to the new one. On windows 7: mklink /j "path/to/steam/steamapps/common/gamefolder" "path/to/the/other/disk/gamefolder"
    - jiggy2011 14y ago
      Thanks, will try that. Shame this isn't made a bit easier.

Flimm 14y ago

For Ubuntu, you can release closed-source software in the Ubuntu Software Centre.

obtu 14y ago
Also PPA-based, by the way.