Vector: Add an APT repository

[binarylogic]

For context please see https://github.com/timberio/vector/issues/862

We initially offered apt support through PackageCloud but had a pretty bad experience with them. We've since moved off of them, updating our installation instructions to install the .dpkg directly. At some point in the future, I'd like to support apt in a way that does not lock us into a provider. We discussed using aptly here.

[binarylogic]

I'm deferring this until we get more demand. Users can install the .rpm package directly, which can be done with one line:

https://vector.dev/docs/setup/installation/package-managers/rpm

If you'd prefer a repository we'd love to hear about it so we can prioritize.

[antifuchs]

Extremely into the idea of a package repository - users gain several advantages from it, and for you, the support story will get much better too (as upgrades, especially security ones, get streamlined):

• repositories are by default code-signed, which means users can trust that the files they got are the files you mean
• upgrades are easy & automatic, while allowing for version pinning
• the install process is somewhat more trustworthy / automatable than "download this file from the internet"

[binarylogic]

Thanks @antifuchs, we are too. We actually started by using package cloud, but our experience was not great. We plan to solve this before 1.0.

[lskillen]

Hey folks, we'd be happy to support you over on @cloudsmith-io - No need to request an open-source account, just create an open-source repository and away you go. :-)

[Hoverbear]

@lskillen So cool that you folks offer OSS accounts! Thanks for supporting the community!