From: rafetmad@cheshire.oxy.edu (David Giller) Subject: Re: Why so many binary distributions (was Re: Nethack 3.1 is out! Who will port it?) Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1993 03:26:21 GMT
goer@midway.uchicago.edu wrote:
>jstump@auntbea.austin.ibm.com (John E. Stump) writes:
>>Some people:
>> (1) don't have the disk space
>> (2) don't have time for compiling
>> (3) don't have confidence in their own programming skills
>> (4) are just users who are intimidated by make et al
>
>One last time: Using a makefile, applying diffs, etc. aren't exactly
>the stuff of gods and wizards.
To some people, yes, it is. Linux should be no less accessible to
them: Some have claimed that Linux should remain a hacker's OS, but
that's a pretty selfish view. It's not hard to make a distribution of
a software package that is easy to install, and from personal
experience, I can tell you that it is a god way to find bugs and
assumptions. Making a ready-to-run binary is just one step away.
Even tossing that argument aside, there's the issue of time. It takes
roughly the same amount of time to download sources as binaries. But
after you get the sources, you have just begun! If I had to compile
all (or even a large portion) of the binaries I have, I wouldn't have
time to even use linux, much less hack the kernel and work on porting
software for others to use.
> I've never taken a Bcomputer science
>class in my life (sat in on part of one once), and as everyone here
>will no doubt attest am no genius. I'm in Near Eastern Languages, for
>heaven's sake. Is learning how a makefile works rocket science? Is
>using a C compiler like reading hieroglyphs? Clearly not. And it's
>getting a bit tiresome reading posting after posting from whining new-
>comers who don't want to bother with a few README files, diffs, and
>makes.
Do you think that forcing new users to learn how to do all these
things is going to IMPROVE this situation? At least if they can get
their hands on some working binaries, maybe they'll get a little more
experience in Linux before they have to ask questions... and by that
time, maybe they will have seen the FAQ.
The Linux Documentation project is in progress. In it, there will be
instructions of just the type you are talking about. YOU may not
think it's any big deal, but were you forced to learn these things
without documentation?
> Remember, Linus is a multitasking OS, so while you compile you
>can do something else.
Really? I thought he was a Finn. That sure explains how he is able
to churn out Linux upgrades so quickly! :)
-Dave
-- David Giller, Box 134 | Q: How many Oregonians does it take to screw in a light Occidental College | bulb? A: Three. One to replace the bulb, and two to 1600 Campus Road | fend off all the Californians trying to share the Los Angeles, CA 90041 | experience. ---------------------------rafetmad@oxy.edu