No more updates for Freecode

We're actually agreeing on the "./configure .. make install" thing.. my point was many ppl loved in the freshmeat glory days to build from source via semi-random downloads without the in-depth knowledge to understand maintenance problems later.

Pushing updates... that's a different issue, I'm not sure how an application developer could scale that, or be entrusted to the necessary access to the end user systems. Rolling releases, make it practical for enthusiasts to be very close to developers code, and I've seen quite a few distros manage to make things widely available very promptly, for those motivated enough to follow them.

Actually developers are encouraged to use systems like OpenSuSE's Build service, which allows upstream to package for multiple distro's and multiple versions of each. So I actually think, if the developer is motivated, they can get their built code to end users by repos, more conveniently and effectively than source download. What I've seen of distro's they are generally keener on this, than most upstreams who prefer to leave packaging to specialists.

Anyway, you could circumvent these issues, using a client/server pull architecture and by scripting clientside, which the core could upgrade automatically at runtime itself. So I'm not sure I really agree about roadblocks, though there may be social reasons which would put roadblocks in place.