The Evilness of Linux Repositories

Ah that first blog of the new year. What shall we blog about ? Winter ? Roads ? Bad weather ?

blah.

Lets blog about Linux.

Which by the way I am on (my old lap top) at the moment.

So , what is a Linux Repository and why is it so evil , you are asking ? You know how on windows you can download programs from any site you like ? Linux you can't do that.

Instead, you have a couple of "Repositories" that hold all the vetted (and free of charge) Linux programs you could hope for. All in one place. And there in lies the problem .

What if someone made a commercial version of Linux, say if ubuntu kicked Windows to the curb and took over ? And the owners , who ever they may be in the end after what I have no doubt will be numerous sell offs and branches of the operating system being made, decided to make a profit by selling access to their repository only , and you weren't allowed access to anyone elses repository.

With me so far ? What if Windows openned a "Windows Online Store" for software ,  on their new Windows 8 system, and you could only buy from that store , no where else ? They'd jack up the prices really high , wouldn't they  ?

Linux isn't really that bad, it should be mentioned there are ways to add new repositories to the list , effectively allowing another store on your computer for you to buy from.  But it's annoying , and involves copying and pasting long command lines, and is really unfriendly.

A tool to make adding a new repository a snap would be pretty cool .

The problem with repositories, or online stores, is that hackers will seek to shut them down with the inevitable ddos (distributed denial of service attack) possibly even demanding money to let up. Which never works of course because if you actually pay such a ransom 10 other hacker groups will promptly shut you down again and demand their ransoms as well.

Repositories are a bad business model all around. Bad for the user because it essentially creates vender lock in , which will triple (or more) all prices, and because they're too hackable. If Linux ever goes mainstream , those repositories will become a huge target for hackers. Take down half the computers in the world by shutting down one site ? What hacker could resist that ?