2019-07-11

A shift to the Linux app store experience

The key to optimising software distribution in a fragmented environment.

Linux software developers historically have faced a number of challenges including fragmentation, distribution complexity and a lack of metrics into the success of their applications. Once an application is built, the journey does not end there - for companies and individual developers creating apps, thought needs to be given to promoting their software for

maximum visibility, usage and customer experience.

Applications within the ‘Featured’ section of Linux app stores can see up to 40% install growth within two weeks of being featured.

Self-contained application formats like AppImage, Flatpak and snaps and the shift to an application store model offer a viable, data-driven alternative to the classic methods. This new approach can help overcome some of the historical challenges while improving visibility to enterprises and end users.

This whitepaper will take a closer look at how software developers targeting the desktop market, in particular, can benefit from moving their applications to a Linux app store including:

  • An evaluation of the packaging formats, distributions and considerations that software developers should review.
  • The adoption of application stores: how software developers can maximise their presence and apply lessons from other industries.
  • A series of case studies highlighting successful apps that have an optimised store presence including Spotify, Visual Studio Code and Skype.
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