On Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:35:12 am André Machado wrote: > We all know that, nowadays, Ubuntu is the distribution most widely used and > known worldwide. Many users are afraid to try other distros because they > are accustomed to Ubuntu and many remasters are Ubuntu or Debian based. > > We also know that RPM-based distros are not anything DEB-based distros and > often are more stable and faster. URPMI is incomparably superior to > apt-get. > > The four major community-driven RPM-based distros nowadays are: Mageia, > OpenSuse, Fedora and PCLinuxOS. > > All these distros can work together to promote the use of RPM distros and > help in their own developments. > > Even though the development team mageia is busy with the roadmap of > development, I would propose the creation of... > > T H E [ R E D ] A L L I A N C E > > ... which would be a global network where developers and users of these > distributions could exchange knowledge and information and share resources > to assist in developing mutual their distros. > > Today we know that a RPM developed for OpenSuse may not work properly in > Fedora. With the Red Alliance, we could create a common development basis, > through which could enhance the compatibility and interoperability of > programs developed for these distros with the establishment of common > guidelines and further increase market share and convince users that they > will feel at home. > > The goal is not to merge all the distros, but work together. The idea > should be further developed, but this seems an appropriate way. >
Standardisation is a good thing. I have an app with a spec file for Suse. I gave up trying to modify it for Mandriva. Quite apart from standardisation however, there are packages in one distro with a different name from another. I would like to see a switch added to the rpm command to tell it: "This package of mine fits that dependency you asked for." A tarball I tried to compile recently (brand new on Freshmeat) specified dependencies older than what I had installed. What I had didn't match. That may be sloppy coding. An "or newer" spec would have fixed it. Who will bell the cat? I am afraid that if you want this Alliance, you will need to be its driving force. And you will need to define much more precisely what your aims are. Doug.
