On Debian-based distros, when an app is available as a DEB or an AppImage (that doesn’t self-update), but no APT repository, PPA or Flatpak, the only option is to manually download each update, and usually manually check even whether there are updates.

But, what if those would be upgraded at the same time as everything else using the tools you’re familiar with ?

dynapt is a local web server that fetches those DEBs (and AppImages to be wrapped into DEBs) wherever those are, then serves these to APT like any package repository does.

I started building it a few months ago, and after using it to upgrade apps on my computers and servers for some time, I pre-released it for the first time last week.

The stable version will come with a CLI wizard to avoid this manual configuration.

Feedback is welcome :)

  • KaKi87@jlai.luOP
    1·
    2 months ago

    Willing to give this a go.

    Alright, don’t hesitate to ask questions if you have any and request help if you need any

    My go-to for getting non-repo debs automatically has been deb-get

    Yes, I mentioned it in the Differences with deb-get & AM section of my tutorial.

    it seems to go long periods of time between PR merges and releases (which includes adding new software)

    Yeah, I could reiterate in that section that my app allows the user to add apps themselves.