Linux Version of App Store?
- Posted November 13, 2009 at 11:45 pm
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Today I read a blog post from the technology section of Canada.com. In the post, the author mentioned about Apple’s App Store in which it is really true that “there’s an App for that”. He was saying that there are over 100,000 applications available on App Store and you can find anything you want. As a Linux user myself, I have to say that Linux users have been enjoying this for a long time ever since the availability of package management tools. More to that, Linux users have been enjoying it for free. Although the number of applications available may not be as many as App Store, but you can find much more complex and functional programs in Linux.
No matter which Linux distribution you use, there is a package management tool implemented to let you find and install free applications in just a click. If you are Ubuntu user like me, then you would find the new Ubuntu Software Centre available. If you are using OpenSuse, then you would use the Software Management function from its YaST Control Center.
To be fair for both sides, you can not really compare between Linux’s package management tools and Apple’s App Store because one is for the desktop and laptop platforms while the other is specifically for iPhone. The users and demands between the two are very different. However, Linux is a very scalable operating system and it has very high potential in the mobile platform. One day we may have mobile versions of our favorite Linux apps and an App Store for Linux mobile with full integration between the mobile and desktop apps. And on top of that, everything is free!
I am not a Linux user (yet), but I was really amazed the number of software they put into the open community when I once tried Ubuntu. The app store for iPhone/iPod Touch is nice, but it can be better; sometimes it’s just too strict when developers submitted an app up for them to approve. With Android and some other Linux-based platform developing, I really would like to see an open platform out so that everyone can really get the software they want. I must say that “there is an app for everyone” is NOT true because at least I don’t see Flash on iPhone yet.
Hello, I think we are beginning to already see something like the Apple app store already just like you mentioned on Ubuntu specifically. However, I have an apprehension about a Linux app store.
What I am afraid of is that when it becomes widely popular on the Linux platform and then we begin to see paid apps on the Linux software management centers, are the developers not going to begin concentrating fully on the paid ones? If they do, eventually, the one greatest advantage the Linux software management centers have on all other platforms will begin to wane. I’d like to hear you views, what do you think?
ghabuntu, I am not too worry about seeing paid apps in the Linux platform because with the way Linux apps are open source and free, it is already a very strong barrier of entry for paid apps.
Well I hope it remains so too.
[...] Linux Version of App Store? Today I read a blog post from the technology section of Canada.com. In the post, the author mentioned about Apple’s App Store in which it is really true that “there’s an App for that”. He was saying that there are over 100,000 applications available on App Store and you can find anything you want. As a Linux user myself, I have to say that Linux users have been enjoying this for a long time ever since the availability of package management tools. More to that, Linux users have been enjoying it for free. Although the number of applications available may not be as many as App Store, but you can find much more complex and functional programs in Linux. [...]
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