Remove Kubic references for Debian and Ubuntu

[lsm5]

Kubic repositories are just too painful to maintain, so best to get rid of them.

The kubic repos are at:
https://build.opensuse.org/project/show/devel:kubic:libcontainers:unstable

@TomSweeneyRedHat @cgiradkar @GabiNecasova PTAL

[cgiradkar]

I'm not sure if I understand it enough to have a say in chucking this section out, but a change in markdown file wont affect the functionality of the website so LGTM.

[lsm5]

I'm not sure if I understand it enough to have a say in chucking this section out, but a change in markdown file wont affect the functionality of the website so LGTM.

The linked repos were an alternative way for debian and ubuntu users to install a newer podman than what the distro provided by default. They are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain so I don't want to point users to it. Hence the deletion.

[Luap99]

This should also be publicly announced somewhere if you drop support for this. But can we ask someone from the community to maintain these first? I know you tried in the past but maybe ask again.

One of the biggest complains is outdated version on ubuntu/debian and when I point this out on the podman bug tracker when people file issues against old versions the usual response is: how can I install the recent version? I want by no means force you to do that work, you have every right to drop this if you like.
But as a project I think we need something because if my only answer is compile from source then most people will not be very happy.

[benoitf]

FYI we're using these repos in Github Actions

[odockal]

Is there another way to install more recent podman package into ubuntu other than ofiicial repositores?

[TomSweeneyRedHat]

I hate to get rid of all of that, but I will lean on you to determine the pain point for updating it all versus not having it.

[TomSweeneyRedHat]

@odockal I will have to lean on @lsm5 to answer your other methods to install on the ubuntu question. Response time might be a bit slow. He's enjoying some well-earned PTO for the next several days.

[afbjorklund]

Does this also include https://build.opensuse.org/project/show/devel:kubic:libcontainers:stable ?

[rhatdan]

@lsm5 update on this?

[lsm5]

FYI we're using these repos in Github Actions

@benoitf is this still the case?

Is there another way to install more recent podman package into ubuntu other than ofiicial repositores?

@odockal I think people have sometimes mentioned alternative ways in github issues but I can't comment on how dependable those are or if they will be actively supported. I think some people do install via brew.

Does this also include https://build.opensuse.org/project/show/devel:kubic:libcontainers:stable ?

@afbjorklund I don't intend to remove the actual repos. I only intend to stop mentioning them in the official docs unless we have sufficient community support for active maintenance.

[benoitf]

@lsm5 yes it is still the case @odockal could confirm

[rhatdan]

@lsm5 any update on this PR?

[lsm5]

@lsm5 any update on this PR?

I'd like to go ahead with this. If anyone is willing to volunteer for active maintenance of Kubic packages, I'm listening and willing to help.

[lsm5]

Maybe you can team up with CRI-O and OBS, but that seems to include bringing back the Nix static packaging...

Would have to be someone else doing the majority work. I won't be able to assign this to myself.

Probably not worth to keep the "Kubic" in the name of the repository, since that project has been shut down?

I guess removing it from the official podman docs is the better approach then.

[lsm5]

Maybe it would be possible to use the PPA infrastructure, like they did for the Apptainer container runtime.

https://apptainer.org/news/official-ppa-20230206/

Last time I was maintaining PPAs, they were ubuntu-only. Has that changed? Debian users would also want something

[lsm5]

Last time I was maintaining PPAs, they were ubuntu-only. Has that changed?

I don't think that it has. Not sure if Debian users are happy with backports from sid.

They tend to be more critical about external binaries, without "proper" dependencies

Like with docker: (doing it "properly", versus downloading a .deb or two from the vendor)

https://www.collabora.com/news-and-blog/blog/2018/07/04/docker-io-debian-package-back-to-life/

@afbjorklund Let's take any further conversation either to a gh issue / discussion. LMK if any further concerns blocking this PR.

[rhatdan]

LGTM

[odockal]

@lsm5 yes it is still the case @odockal could confirm

Yes it is. We are using it to get more recent Podman in GH action ubuntu runner for our tests. I have created an issue in podman-desktop repo for us to tackle eventual need for a new solution if Kubic repo will be not maintained anymore, but I do not really see anyone who can work on the issue to keep unofficial repository alive, even if we combine both teams as suggested.

Do not want to open the discussion here. Let's see if something can be done in the linked issue and open new on podman side if needed.