Forum OpenACS Development: New feature in HEAD: Install OpenACS packages directly from GitHub URLs

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1: New feature in HEAD: Install OpenACS packages directly from GitHub URLs
Posted by Gustaf Neumann on 01/22/26 12:29 PM

Hi all,

I’ve added support to the HEAD branch that allows loading OpenACS packages directly from GitHub URLs via the Package Manager.

The “Load Package” workflow now accepts a single source value, which can be:

  • a traditional .apm archive URL (HTTP/HTTPS)

  • a GitHub repository URL, e.g.

  • https://github.com/OWNER/REPO

  • https://github.com/OWNER/REPO/tree/REF
  • https://github.com/OWNER/REPO/tree/REF/path/to/package
  • an absolute path to a local .apm file or directory

For GitHub sources, the repository (or selected subdirectory) must contain exactly one *.info file; the package is downloaded as a tarball, staged into the APM workspace, and can then be installed as usual.

The admin UI wording has been adjusted to better distinguish between:

  • repository installs (openacs.org),
  • managed local file system installs, and
  • ad-hoc installs from URLs or non-standard locations.

This is intended to make it easier to work with packages that are now primarily maintained on GitHub, without requiring manual repackaging into .apm files.

As always, feedback is welcome.

All the best
-g