Getdeb
Encyclopedia
GetDeb is an Ubuntu
software portal with ready-to-install applications in Ubuntu's default package format
. It was created to simplify the installation of new software for Ubuntu
users. GetDeb focuses both on providing newer versions of software included in Ubuntu and software that is omitted from the official repositories.
PlayDeb is a sister project to GetDeb, likewise serving the Ubuntu community, but with an explicit focus on games.
The GetDeb and PlayDeb services are also supported in Linux Mint
, a prominent Ubuntu derivative with its own utilities.
and Debian
upon which it is based use the deb
package
format, it is easiest to install software packaged in that format. While utilities such as the GNU build system
typically allow users to install or uninstall software after building it from source code
, they do not integrate with any one Linux distribution
, nor do they solve dependencies
. Thus, ideally software is installed in a distribution-specific format.
GetDeb and its sister project PlayDeb package software such that it can easily be installed in a user-friendly point-and-click
manner on Ubuntu, removing hurdles for less-technical users.
It is generally advisable to run from Ubuntu's own packages where possible, as software offered by GetDeb and PlayDeb has not been extensively tested with the current Ubuntu release. However, in many cases newer versions of software are only omitted from a specific Ubuntu release due to releases typically being static except for security updates. In some cases, software packaged by GetDeb and PlayDeb may be beta or alpha releases.
Additionally, software offered may not conform to the Debian or Ubuntu packaging guidelines. GetDeb and PlayDeb overlap somewhat in purpose with the rolling release
Debian Sid and the Ubuntu Backports repository.
As an Ubuntu
software portal and repository, the downtime of GetDeb, as with any other repository, can cause problems for users as they cannot install or update software that is provided through GetDeb if the service is unavailable.
Ubuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
software portal with ready-to-install applications in Ubuntu's default package format
Deb (file format)
deb is the extension of the Debian software package format and the most often used name for such binary packages. Like the "Deb" part of the term Debian, it originates from the name of Debra, erstwhile girlfriend and now ex-wife of Debian's founder Ian Murdock.Debian packages are also used in...
. It was created to simplify the installation of new software for Ubuntu
Ubuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
users. GetDeb focuses both on providing newer versions of software included in Ubuntu and software that is omitted from the official repositories.
PlayDeb is a sister project to GetDeb, likewise serving the Ubuntu community, but with an explicit focus on games.
The GetDeb and PlayDeb services are also supported in Linux Mint
Linux Mint
Linux Mint is a Linux-based computer operating system best known for its usability and ease of installation, particularly for users with no previous GNU/Linux experience...
, a prominent Ubuntu derivative with its own utilities.
Purpose
As UbuntuUbuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
and Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
upon which it is based use the deb
Deb (file format)
deb is the extension of the Debian software package format and the most often used name for such binary packages. Like the "Deb" part of the term Debian, it originates from the name of Debra, erstwhile girlfriend and now ex-wife of Debian's founder Ian Murdock.Debian packages are also used in...
package
Software package (installation)
In package management systems, which are commonly used with Linux-based operating systems, a package is a specific piece of software which the system can install and uninstall....
format, it is easiest to install software packaged in that format. While utilities such as the GNU build system
GNU build system
The GNU build system, also known as the Autotools, is a suite of programming tools designed to assist in making source-code packages portable to many Unix-like systems....
typically allow users to install or uninstall software after building it from source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
, they do not integrate with any one Linux distribution
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
, nor do they solve dependencies
Coupling (computer science)
In computer science, coupling or dependency is the degree to which each program module relies on each one of the other modules.Coupling is usually contrasted with cohesion. Low coupling often correlates with high cohesion, and vice versa...
. Thus, ideally software is installed in a distribution-specific format.
GetDeb and its sister project PlayDeb package software such that it can easily be installed in a user-friendly point-and-click
Point-and-click
Point-and-click is the action of a computer user moving a cursor to a certain location on a screen and then pressing a mouse button, usually the left button , or other pointing device...
manner on Ubuntu, removing hurdles for less-technical users.
Pros and cons
GetDeb and PlayDeb serve two primary purposes. They allow Ubuntu users to install software that is not yet included in the main repositories, and offer current versions of many packages that are included in the Ubuntu repositories. The latter is of utility because, due to the release cycle adopted by Ubuntu, most packages will be several months out of date at the time of release, and will not receive feature updates until the next discrete release for stability reasons.It is generally advisable to run from Ubuntu's own packages where possible, as software offered by GetDeb and PlayDeb has not been extensively tested with the current Ubuntu release. However, in many cases newer versions of software are only omitted from a specific Ubuntu release due to releases typically being static except for security updates. In some cases, software packaged by GetDeb and PlayDeb may be beta or alpha releases.
Additionally, software offered may not conform to the Debian or Ubuntu packaging guidelines. GetDeb and PlayDeb overlap somewhat in purpose with the rolling release
Rolling release
In software development, a rolling release development model refers to a continuously developing software system; this is opposed to a standard release development model which uses software versions that must be reinstalled over the previous version...
Debian Sid and the Ubuntu Backports repository.
Downtime
In 2010, the server was off-line from February 28 to March 9. GetDeb was also down from May 28 until June 13. The official blog for GetDeb is updated to reflect maintenance and downtime.As an Ubuntu
Ubuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
software portal and repository, the downtime of GetDeb, as with any other repository, can cause problems for users as they cannot install or update software that is provided through GetDeb if the service is unavailable.