Apt is a package meta-installer, similar to yum or smart, that can be used together with dpkg or rpm to facilitate package installation in Linux distributions.
However, some problems arise from the todays meta-installers.
This articles depicts some already implemented features and some future steps toward the new generation of meta-data installers.
First, it is not always possible to rollback a transaction like installation, removal or upgrade of a package into the previous state. A new system that saves configuration files and allow an easy repository association has been developed that allows the use of history and rollback operations.
Second, dependency solving is not always effective. EDOS project, and namely WP2 team, had identify the flaws and possible solutions. Based on that background some work is being developed in order to allow choose the best packages for solving the needed dependencies.
Finally, a first approach for using peer-to-peer in package installation is being conduct in order to work as a testbed for EDOS WP4 work in that area.