Monotone now probably can be used for mass hosting:
- ssh support (read/write) - since 0.27/2006-06
- multi-database server (read) - since 0.23/2005-09
http://mtn-host.prjek.net/ demonstrates Monotone hosting and publishes its source code (project webhost)
Technically, usher can be used for write access, but does not support privileges separation (one uid must have write access to all repos).
References
There was a discussion about supporting montone at Savannah it on the monotone-devel list (hosted by Savannah :)) last year: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/monotone-devel/2005-08/msg00072.html
Monotone proselitism ;) by Chad Walstrom: http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/private/gnu-prog-discuss/2006q2/001201.html
(For more general discussion about supporting a new service, check NewServiceSupport)
Rejected Ideas
- usher + setuid wrapper for 'mtn server': I think the authentication is performed after
mtn serveris started - forward connection to a running server: we can't afford to let 2500 servers (one per project) always running in the background