Getting Software Added to Unix Distributions?

suso asks: "I've been working on a set of programs called num-utils that I would eventually like to be considered for inclusion in some of the many free Un*x distributions (on the install CDs, etc). So my question is, how does one put their applications on the track to be included in the main distribution of Red Hat, Debian, SuSE, *BSD, and so on? Is this just something that is up to the maintainers or are there submission forms of some kind?"

Comments

Usefulness and Popularity

[turgid]

If your programs are genuinely useful and well-written, they will build up a user base over time. Eventually they will become viewed as worth putting in a distribution.

Simple

[sporty]

1. port it to as many systems as possible, even non-targert systems. possibly AIX, old Digital Unix.. you name it.

2. get the werd out. If people know about your package, it could solve a problem somewhere that would get it installed.

3. support it. if you support it, people will keep using it. even if it is initially crappy, you'll get bug fixes and advice.

4. package it. no one more than me.. 'cept for those that hate it more than me, hate doing custom compiles on a system that doesn't have /usr/ports or emerge.

Then you live on w/ your life. If your software is good and fulfills a need, you'll see it get put in.

Then you can go onto 5. Profit. or ????. YMMV

Make noiseb about it

[makapuf]

Not to sound flamebait, but you're quite right in doing it : giving it the maximum visibility (for example by posting a link to it on a popular news discussion site) will make a few people notice it exists.

Now, the main question is does it do ogg ?

Step-wise procedure...

[jkrise]

1. Write software.
2. Take out a coyright in your name.
3. Apply GPL notices to code.
4. Publish code via ftp.
5. Send code to Source Forge and Freshmeat.

Very difficult?

-

Reputation + Packaging

[rf0]

Half of it is about reputation and having a good following. The other thing that helps is to supply packages for each distro. i.e rpm for redhat, deb for debian. For others like FreeBSD which have the ports tree see if you can get your files commited

HTh

Rus

unique?

[battjt]

Your commands are already installed on my system, or aren't needed.

average
awk '{sum+=$1}END{print sum/NR}'
bound
awk 'NR==1{min=$1}{max=$1>max?$1:max;min=$1 < min?$1:min}END{print min,max}'
interval
awk '{print $1-last; last=$1}'
numgrep ( 500 < x < 1000 or x is a multiple of 3)
awk '$1 < 1000 && $1>500 || $1%3 == 0 {print $1}'
numproc
awk '{print $1 [[your math expression expressed in standard infix notation]]}'
numsum
awk '{sum += $1}END{print sum}'
random
awk supports rand(), bash has $RANDOM, Linux has /proc/random for a stream of random data. Any range can be chosen using 'numproc', for instance /1..10/ is 'rand() * 10 + 1'
range
Why are you ever instantiatin ranges? It wastes space. Ranges should be abstractly manipulated.
round(floor)
awk '{print int($1)}'
round(nearest n)
awk '{print int($1/n)*n}'

These commands are easy to use and have a transparency that makes it very clear what the bugs would be, where as num-utils has warnings like

round will drop off the decimal places in decimal numbers. This may cause some calculations to be in error, depending on how you are using the data.

that make me wonder what round does if it has problems with decimal numbers.

Joe

Oh My God.

[pongo000]

I'm sorry, but I think we've all just been trolled. I don't believe there's really an attempt to ask a valid question here. This individual has written a couple of perl scripts, and truly believes they will change the world. He hasn't done any research (no mention of CPAN, thinks that FreeBSD does Perl, etc.), and truly believes that a few Perl math routines will change the world. Can you spell "ego trip"?

But just in case I'm wrong, here's what you do: Point your browser to CPAN. Carefully read the instructions. Submit your scripts. If they're good, they'll get used, you'll make a name for yourself, and will be on the way to The Big Time.

I really can't believe this made /.