The State Of PackageKit, AppStream, & Listaller

Matthias Klumpp has written about the current state of PackageKit, AppStream, and Listaller for cross-Linux distribution package management and installation.

For those out of the loop, PackageKit is the abstraction layer for management management systems and allows for application accesss over DBus. AppStream is the cross-distribution effort for powering Software Centers/Stores with common meta-data for information like ratings and screenshots. Lastly, Listaller is the cross-distribution third-party software installer built atop PackageKit and AppStream.

Read Matthias's blog post for all of the details but the key information comes down to:

- PackageKit 0.8.x is working out quite well with performance improvements -- even to the speed of using native distribution package management software.

- Most Linux distributions are using (or supporting) PackageKit except for Ubuntu.

- "The AppStream side doesn’t look incredibly great, but the situation is improving."

- The KDE PackageKit front-end (Apper) now has full support for AppStream and there's a GNOME Software component being developed for AppStream support too.

- Listaller is nearing a point of doing a release with a stable API and specifications.

- Only a few Linux distributions are packaging Listaller at this point.