Greetings,
I am investigating developing a next generation Software Distribution (SD) system that needs to be cross platform, but this time the new twist is it would be connecting to the repository over https:// rather than drive shares my prior solutions have greatly leveraged.
Since I am new to dealing with the https:// protocol in a SD setting, I am looking for a crash course. Unless given a good reason, my choice of web server to back up to would be Apache. My hope is to not have to do a custom server side module, client only.
The other main area of SD solution would be interacting with the local file system...
1) Making directories
2) Obtaining directory/file listings of directories or subtrees
3) Move / Copy / Rename / Delete objects
4) md5sum of file content, to insure files deployed match what the server said each object should be.
My goal would be cross-platform Linux/Windows 32/64 bit.
I am looking to build a generic solution which would facilitate deploying out the client side of applications where the back-end will be hosted by us across the Internet. When we onboard a new client, then we would set up a VPN link between our server and their location. Then they would be able to https:// access our server over that VPN. They would download a Lazarus written client deployment tool which would phone home to us across the VPN link, and kick off the client installation of the desired application. The deployed client side program launcher would always first do a SD check to insure that the client was at the server mandated version, that complete, it would chain onto running the actual application.
I am seeking to design this Lazarus SD piece generic enough that it could serve up a variety of applications developed in any tool. The SD piece merely would perform the client app sync over https:// and exit with a return code. If it exists with a good exit code, then the client side of the actual application would be launched.
Suggestions as to what Lazarus components are already available to assist in this endeavor?
I am thankful,
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