How should I upload my app?
In order for your application to be delivered via the Ubuntu Software Centre, it must be packaged in a standard format that makes it possible to distribute it to users.
The technology Ubuntu uses for that purpose is called Debian packaging.
Commercial and proprietary software
Canonical provides the packaging service to you free of charge. However, in order to package your software properly, it must meet all of the points in the Technical requirements section below.
You can choose to upload either of:
- Sources or binaries – Your application’s source or binary files, bundled in an archive file (.tar.gz, .zip, etc)
- Debian source package – A Debian source package (.dsc, diff.gz, orig.tar.gz files, if you are already familiar with packaging), bundled in an archive file (.tar.gz, .zip, etc)
Open source software at zero cost
All submissions should be through a Personal Package Archive (PPA), which you can indicate in the comment field for the reviewer when submitting your app.
Application Review Process ›
Learn more about packaging and PPAs ›
Technical requirements
In order for your application to be distributed in the Software Centre it must:
- Be in one, self-contained directory when installed
- Be able to be installed into the /opt/<package-name> directory (*)
- Be executable by all users from the /opt/<package-name> directory (**)
- Write all configuration settings to ~/.config/<package-name> (This can be one file or a directory containing multiple configuration files)
(*) Open source, zero-cost apps should be installable to /opt/extras.ubuntu.com/<package-name>
(**) Users only have read and not write privileges to this directory