PBI v10:Application Management

Made Easy

Ken Moore PC-BSD/iXsystems

SouthEast LinuxFestJune 20-22, 2014

Definitions

● PBI: Push Button Installer

– This encompasses all the various subsystems required to use 3rd party applications on a PC-BSD system

Example Toolchain:

– Fetching/building the application from source

– Packaging that application for distribution– Downloading/installing package

Source Build

Old PBI System● FreeBSD Ports● /usr/pbi/<app>

system base● Compilation

options set on individual application basis (including for all dependencies)

PBI Version 10● FreeBSD Ports● /usr/local system

base● Compilation

options set for individual applications on a system-wide basis

App Packaging

Old PBI System● Single file for each

application (*.pbi)● Large file size● Fixed download

size● No internet

required

PBI Version 10● Single file for each

port/package● Small file sizes● Variable download

size● Requires internet

connection

App Installation

Old PBI System● Single Method

– Specialized Containers

PBI Version 10● Multiple methods

– System Integrated

– FreeBSD Jails– Other

Containers?

10.x Summary

Old PBI System

Various independent subsystems

PBI Version 10

Unified subsystem framework

FreeBSD OS FreeBSD OS

PBI System Jails

1 2 3 4

PBI w/pkgng

Jails Other?System

AppCafe

● Graphical interface for end-user interaction with the PBI system

● Simple access to different installation methods or locations

● Easily use custom package repositories

Management

● Easily see installed applications

● Filtering Options

– Apps Only– Orphan Packages– Base Packages– “Raw” Packages

● Bulk Actions

– Uninstall– Desktop Shortcuts– Version Locking

Browsing

● At-a-glance:

– Name/summary– Rating– Recommended– Install status– Type of application

● Filter Options

– Graphical Apps– Text Apps– Server Apps– “Raw” Packages

Searching

● Smart Search Algorithm

– Name Matches– Tag Matches– Description

Matches

App Details

● Push Button Install● Detailed Information

– Version– User Rating– User Tips– Author– Download Size– License– Platform/Arch– Description– Screenshots– Plugins Available– Similar Applications– Build Options (static)

App Access

● Launch Application● Contact Maintainer● Desktop Shortcuts● The “Size” is now

the actual size the package occupies on disk

FreeBSD Jails

What is it?● Self-contained

system environment● Independant

root/users● Secure environment● Distinct IP/Hostname● Not a Linux chroot!

Features● Extremely low

overhead● Start/Stop● Invisible oversight

from main system

Tip: Think of a jail as a full virtual machine, but with such low overhead that hundreds can be used simultaneously

Warden

● Jail Management● Import/Export● ZFS snapshot/restore● Multiple Jail Types

– Traditional (command line)

– Ports Jail (graphical access)

– Linux Jail (experimental)

AppCafe Jails

● Jails must be running in order to be used

– The warden can start jails automatically● When installing an application into a jail,

it will sync the pkg configuration between the jail and the main system.

● Jails can be updated from the AppCafe using the existing pkg configuration in the jail.

PBI Summary

● Improvements– Stability (no custom localbase)– Simplicity (distribution system and

management)– Standards (the underlying FreeBSD pkg system)

● New Features– Support for multiple installation methods– Ability to use/manage FreeBSD jails– Application plugin support– Version locking– More Application Info (ratings, tips, screenshots)

Remember: The *.pbi file format becomes obsolete with the new system!

Get Involved!

● See an error with an application's info?● Want to fix or add an icon for an

application?

– Modules are on the PC-BSD GitHub repo

● Is the AppCafe missing a particular application?

– Add it to the FreeBSD ports tree!

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/porters-handbook/

https://github.com/pcbsd/pcbsd/tree/master/pbi-modules

Questions?