osnews.com — FOSS communities are proud of the 'bazaar' model, where anyone can join in by starting a project and publishing programs. Users are free to pick whatever software they want, provided they're happy to compile from source, resolve dependencies manually and give up automatic security/feature updates. This essay introduces Autopackage and Zero Install.
Jan 16, 2007 View in Crawl 4
schestowitzJan 16, 2007
What the essay seems to miss is the fact that Linux installation, when done/chosen properly, beats all others. I'll use some examples.,----[ Quote ]| All of this can be accomplished in Debian as follows:| | apt-get install kerry| | Phew, that was tricky. I can see why those windows guys find Linux| sooo difficult. It is waaaaay easier to go to some random website,| download an installer, pray that it is safe, double-click on the| installer, click "Yes, I do agree to all of these outrageous license| terms and I don't mind that it includes spyware, and adware", click| Next, Next, Next, and finally reboot a couple of times.`----<a class="user" href="http://benhay.blogspot.com/2006/11/thing-about-beagle.html">http://benhay.blogspot.com/2006/11/thing-about-beagle.html</a>Free Agent: How to Compile Free Software Apps,----[ Quote ]| Let me start with a controversial statement: Installing| new software is almost always easier on Linux than on| Windows or the Mac OS.`----<a class="user" href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127601-c,linux/article.html">http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127601-c,linux/article.html</a>Some more related proofs:Installing Microsoft Script Debugger in Windows Vista, 10 MB<a class="user" href="http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/84-web-developers-microsoft-has-no-idea-whats-going-on">http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/84-web-developers-microsoft-has-no-idea-whats-going-on</a>Simple Package management with Synaptic Package Manager in Ubuntu<a class="user" href="http://www.debianadmin.com/simple-package-management-with-synaptic-package-manager-in-ubuntu.html">http://www.debianadmin.com/simple-package-management-with-synaptic-package-manager-in-ubuntu.html</a>Installation on Vista, OSX, and Ubuntu<a class="user" href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=xA7cP-qpdlI">http://youtube.com/watch?v=xA7cP-qpdlI</a>I am not sure the submitter will agree with me because he recently trolled GNU/Linux (too late to mend the damage), having praised Vista.
fox785454avhiJan 17, 2007
The article is about *decentralised* installation systems. Try your example with a package that isn't in Debian, e.g.:$ apt-get install plashReading Package Lists... DoneBuilding Dependency Tree... DoneE: Couldn't find package plashThe article's thesis is that Free software requires the ability to redistribute. If users can only install 'approved' packages, then they are denied this freedom.Similarly, it'll be 'easy' to install an operating system on future hardware locked-down with DRM: just insert the Windows CD in the drive and boot the machine. Oh, you didn't want Windows? Tough.
honkybongApr 7, 2007
and?
honkybongApr 8, 2007
Author of this article proposes some very good ideas on how to make a better infrastructure to distribute and maintain software packages. I believe we all would benefit from a more universal distribution means like those indeed.It is a very interesting reading!