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A parser, similar in functionality to [[plugins/inline]] that would find and parse debian packages from a repository and include links to them. Functionality would be similar to the PHP Apt-file parser (for an example of the output, see my repository). This would create a helpful index page to a small repository, listing all the packages, and possibly their descriptions as well, with links to download them or their sources.

I think this is easily possible (and I might be able to work on it myself, though Perl is not my strong suit). The trickiest part is probably figuring out how and when to parse the packages. The packages could be included in the ikiwiki RCS repository, which might be difficult when the Packages/Release files need to be generated (especially if it's via an external tool like reprepro/debarchiver/etc.). Or, the packages could be kept separate, with only a link given to the plugin, though changes would then not be picked up until the ikiwiki is recompiled.

Perhaps a better (though infinitely more complicated) solution would be to include the reprepro/debarchiver functionality in ikiwiki. Packages could be posted, like blog entries, and tagged with the target distribution (sid/lenny/etc.). Then compiling ikiwiki would generate the needed Packages/Release files automatically.

Just some thoughts I had, hope it's not too crazy. --Cameron

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