Developers are a crucial part of any successful software platform. In the same way that an operating system is “just” a means for people to use applications, a platform is “just” a means for developers to create applications and make them available to people.
There are three primary ways in which Ubuntu can help developers do their work. They are all related, but distinct, and so we should consider them individually:
1. Developing for Ubuntu
Today, Ubuntu bundles thousands of free software applications, for both clients and servers, most of which are packaged by Debian.
Ubuntu also carries certifications for a variety of third-party ISV software, both open source and proprietary, which are coordinated through Canonical’s partner program.
In both of these cases, many of these applications are actually developed on other platforms, and ported to Ubuntu, either by the free software community or by the creators of the software.
2. Developing on Ubuntu
Ubuntu is already quite popular among developers, who mainly run Desktop Edition on their workstations. They might be developing:
- web applications (with server-side and browser components)
- portable applications (e.g. using Java, or Adobe AIR)
- mobile applications (e.g. for Android or iOS)
- native applications, which might target Ubuntu Desktop Edition itself, or supporting multiple platforms through a framework like Qt
3. Distributing through Ubuntu
Like other modern operating systems, Ubuntu isn’t just a platform where applications run, but also a system for finding and installing applications. Starting with APT, which originated in Debian, we’ve added Software Center, the ISV partner repository, and various other capabilities in this area. They all help to connect developers with users, facilitating distribution of software to users, and feedback to developers.
So, where should we focus?
Some developers might be interested in all three of these, while others might only care about one or two.
However, most of the developer improvements we could make in Ubuntu would only address one of these areas.
For this reason, I think it’s important that we consider the question of the relative importance of these three developer scenarios. Given that we want Ubuntu to flourish as a platform, how would we prioritize them?
I have my own ideas, which I’ll write about in subsequent posts, but here’s your chance to tell me what you think. :-)
