[regularfry]

> the disadvantage that you need to configure your apps to follow something like LSB (e.g. install to standard extension locations rather than overwriting system files, etc.).

Common misconception. You only need to do this if you're going to try to push the packages upstream. If they're for your own consumption, you can do what you like. Slap a bunch of files in /opt, and be done with it - let apt manage versions for you and be happy.

As with many things, this is one area where you've just got to know what to ignore. It's simpler than it looks.

[acdha]

I think we're actually talking about the same thing – I said “like LSB” simply to denote following some sort of consistent pattern, which will vary depending on how widely things are shared.

/opt is defined in FHS for local system administrator use, so installing your company's packages there is actually the recommended way to avoid conflict with any LSB-compliant distribution as long as you use /opt/<appname> instead of installing directly into the top-level /opt:

http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html#OPTADDONAPPLICA...