----- Original Message ---- > From: Mark Preston <m...@mpreston.demon.co.uk> > To: discuss@documentfoundation.org > Sent: Fri, December 3, 2010 12:18:16 PM > Subject: Re: [tdf-discuss] Re: A better idea for a download package. > > I see several issues in the discussion about installers - and I only > just joined the list! Let's list 'em... > > 1. You are assuming everyone will be running Linux. They won't. > 2. You assume they all have a packaged Linux distro. They won't.
Only the latest discussion has focused around Linux. It hasn't been the only OS discussed or assumed. > 3. You presume they can all grab tar's themselves. They can't. > 4. You assume they will all download the package. They won't. That should always be an option, regardless of whether people avail themselves of it. > Installers are needed because (1) you can adapt an installer to manage > installation on all the systems people *will* be using, such as > Windows XP, Vista, Win7 and - for some - either 32-bit or 64-bit > versions; Linux using Debian-based or other installers and (2) those > who have no standard installer system included; Android users and even > Apple users (3) who want something that installs like an app does; > even, despite the undoubted acrimony, Solaris users. > Finally (4), there will be those users who buy a preconfigured or even > standard virtualised system from a supplier and want both the supplier > provided system and the discs to fix any problems - and for that you > want a packaged product with installer and repair system to put on disc. > While an installer may not be the top priority, it is undoubtedly a > very important feature that needs to be present to reach the widest > number of users. An Installer only helps on Windows. Solaris has a packaging system; nearly all Unixes have a packaging system. Linux Distros have their own packaging systems. Fortunately, TDF/LO can focus on providing 3 Linux packages: debian, rpm, slackware, source tarball Nearly every Linux distro will provide its own package according to its own packaging system; but those above will meet everyone else. Most non-Developer Linux Users only install what is in or is compatible with the packaging system their distro uses. Mac also has a packaging system which is pretty much a zip file with all the relevant files contained therein. (Not really, that's just a good simplified description.) All Mac targeted software is installed that way - the exception likely being the OS and its relations (e.g. drivers). That is simply the Mac-way and Mac users will expect that. iOS and Android are not being targetted (from what I can tell) and LO/OOo would be far too big for them right now any how. They also each have a standard method of installation - the AppStore and Android MarketPlace. So again, no separate installer is necessary there. So, really the _only_ platform an installer is really necessary on is Windows, which is the _only_ platform without a standard packaging system or installation method. Yes, Windows has the Microsoft Windows Installer System (MSI files), but it's still never had a standard installation method. Ben -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to discuss+h...@documentfoundation.org Archive: http://www.documentfoundation.org/lists/discuss/ *** All posts to this list are publicly archived for eternity ***
