Using apps

Apps (introduced in 0install 1.9) work a bit like aliases, e.g.

$ 0install add rox http://rox.sourceforge.net/2005/interfaces/ROX-Filer
$ rox --version
ROX-Filer 2.11

The main difference is that apps store their current selections (in ~/.config/0install.net/apps/rox/selections.xml in this case). This means that they start faster, because the solver isn’t needed:

$ 0alias rox-alias http://rox.sourceforge.net/2005/interfaces/ROX-Filer
$ 0install add rox-app http://rox.sourceforge.net/2005/interfaces/ROX-Filer

$ time rox-alias --version > /dev/null
rox-alias --version > /dev/null  0.12s user 0.02s system 91% cpu 0.144 total

$ time rox-app --version > /dev/null
rox-app --version > /dev/null  0.06s user 0.02s system 92% cpu 0.082 total

When run, they still trigger a background update if they haven’t been updated for a while, and you can also update them manually:

$ 0install update rox
No updates found. Continuing with version 2.11.

They also remember any restrictions (e.g. –before).

Each app also stores past selections (max one set per day) so if an update goes wrong you can see what changed and roll-back easily:

$ 0install whatchanged 0publish
Last checked    : Wed Jun 27 20:24:19 2012
Last update     : 2012-06-27
Previous update : 2012-06-16

http://0install.net/2007/interfaces/ZeroInstall.xml: 1.8-post -> 1.9-post
http://repo.roscidus.com/security/gnupg: new -> 1.4.12-4

To run using the previous selections, use:

$ 0install run /home/tal/.config/0install.net/apps/0publish/selections-2012-06-16.xml

Starting with 0install 1.14, 0alias is deprecated, and trying to add an alias will add an app instead.