Martin Man wrote: > Dave Miner wrote: >> Martin Man wrote: >>> Stephen Potter wrote: > >>> splitting into -devel is good IMHO, because >>> >>> 1) users don't need gcc and header files and static libs >>> 2) developers can always install them >>> 3) it saves space, and yes, space is still important as it was before >>> even if we have bigger drives and more memory -> think Java vs. flash, >>> or Linux live distro on USB flash drive >>> >> As Darren pointed out, we don't bother with static libraries anymore. >> The space required by header files and other developer-specific items in >> the current Solaris WOS appears to be essentially in the noise, though I >> haven't studied it in great depth. > > Well, even if at the moment devel stuff is just noise, it will probably > not be noise in the future... Just look at all linux distros, there is > no reason to believe that solaris will go different path... >
My observation is that they go to great lengths to provide separate packages, but it's not clear at all how much difference it makes in the size of the installation when all's said and done. Anyone have actual numbers on a current Fedora or something? And even then, does it make much difference in whether someone chooses to install that distribution? Hard to come by data on that one, I'd guess. What I do know is that it's a real pain to chase down all the things you need once you decide that you need to compile something. Much profanity usually ensues ;-), even if you have a comparatively sophisticated package manager and fast, reliable network repositories from which to install those additions. Dave
