CHAPTER 41

Using Ubuntu for Opportunistic Software

Development

IN THIS CHAPTER

Version Control Systems

Introduction    to  Opportunistic   Development

Launchpad

Ubuntu  Make

Creating    Snap    Packages

Bikeshed    and Other   Tools

References

There are some among us who love to write program code. Others are able

to write code but do not particularly enjoy doing so. Most of this section of
the book (Part V, “Programming Linux”) is dedicated to the first group—
those who love to code and want to know how to get started using their
favorite tools in Ubuntu. However, this section of the book is also useful for
those who just want to scratch a specific itch and code up a quick program to
do something useful and make it available to other Ubuntu users but who are
not interested in learning how to become package maintainers, upload to the
official software repositories, and so on. We call this process of coding up a
quick solution to a problem opportunistic development. This is in direct
contrast to systematic development, which involves professional planning,
requirements gathering, design, processes, and procedures. The “References”
section at the end of the chapter provides links for those who want to be
involved in serious, sustained development and helping with official
packaging. To determine if that’s the direction you want to go, this chapter
helps you get started with opportunistic development so you can get
something written and then make it available to others quickly and easily.