Can I disable Launchpad from making the source of my package available?

Question

I don't wish that my source code be available for download at launchpad when i upload my packages for building. Is it possible?

ish · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18T10:54:44.407

5

No, it's not possible. The source will always be publicly available for any packages you build using Launchpad as a regular user.

What you want is only possible if you get a commercial subscription to Launchpad and use its "private PPA" option ($250/year).

If interested, please see:

edited Jul 18 '12 at 10:54

answered Jul 18 '12 at 10:23

ish

So how do you make commercial application available for download using apt-get and create debian packages for them – adnan kamili Jul 18 '12 at 10:48
You Sign up for a commercial subscription... See https://launchpad.net/+tour/join-launchpad#commercial – ish Jul 18 '12 at 10:53
Is there any other alternative which is free of cost – adnan kamili Jul 18 '12 at 10:58
No. If you want to commercialize your project, it's only fair to pay a little for the convenience of Launchpad. Otherwise, the free solution is to create and host your own apt repository. – ish Jul 18 '12 at 11:04
1

However, you can create proprietary software and package it in `.deb` packages without having to pay anything. The software (and project page) just *cannot be hosted on Launchpad* (without a commercial subscription). You can set up your own download server or ship your `.deb` packages to your customers however you like (provided that you are not reusing any code written in your proprietary software in such a way as to [violate its license](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyleft)). Of course, I encourage you to release it as [FOSS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_and_open-source_software). – Eliah Kagan Jul 18 '12 at 22:27
Then I assume that [the WebUpd8 team](https://launchpad.net/~webupd8team) got the commercial subscription? – Franklin Yu Apr 04 '18 at 17:49

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 18 '12 at 22:28

2

edited Jul 18 '12 at 22:28

Eliah Kagan

answered Jul 18 '12 at 10:24

Gibbs

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:25

It's possible to build packages without using Launchpad for building by using your own computer.

Among others the pbuilder package can be used to build a distribution environment, and then later to build packages.

Of course you will have to find a way to distribute the debs that this produces.

3 Answers3