Last month I proposed that the FOSS community create an integrated software installer for Windows and Mac OS that only included FOSS applications. If Google can make Google Pack, I opined, why can’t we make a FOSS Pack?
As I had expected, my idea was already realised, at least in part. WinLibre and MacLibre provide a menu of free/libre software packages for the user to choose from, and can automatically install them for you.
That’s a big step in the right direction, albeit not the beauty we have on GNU/Linux through tools like Add/Remove Applications and apt-url. It haven’t tried them (I rarely use Windows and I don’t have a Mac), but here’s what I think they need to truly shine (based on my last post on the subject):
- an updates management service, that automatically checks for available updates and installs them for you
- an ability to cleanly remove the software just as easily as it was installed
- a file system scanner that recommends FOSS software to install, based on the software and file types it finds on the hard drive
January 10th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
This sounds like a great idea. I have often heard voices who criticise such efforts to bring the benefits of the GNU/Linux world to the windows platform. (GnuWin is an example that comes to mind.) While I understand the points of competitiveness, I think it is unreasonable to expect switchers to go “cold turkey” on their entire set of proprietary tools. I always recommend people interested in Linux to switch applications first, OS later. Otherwise your friend will come back in a few days with questions such as “How do I install MSN messenger under wine?”.
January 11th, 2009 at 12:12 am
[…] FOSS Pack exists! (well, kinda) […]
January 11th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Try Appupdater: http://www.nabber.org/projects/appupdater/
It doesn’t do your third thing, but that could be added. That feature might need some work though.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Oops, Appupdaer is Windows only. But it’s written in python.
January 11th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
There is a windows Apt clone called winget. Hasnt had much work recently but has a repository of Free and Opensource Applications for Windows. There is no Graphical User Interface but adept or synaptic could be ported to windows to work with it.