Devrim GUNDUZ wrote: > Hi, > > As you know, many databases that run on Linux / Unix systems have a GUI > installer which make installation easier and more attractive for some > people. > > Our Windows Installer is very attractive, for example. > > Now, I and Burcu Guzel, who is a Senior Programmer, decided to launch a > new project: pgnixinstaller : > > http://pgfoundry.org/projects/pgnixinstaller/ > > We are actively looking for developers for the project. Please drop me > an e-mail if you want to join this project. We will use Python, so you > need to be a Python guy to join the project. We are in planning phase, > if you join us earlier, we will be able to share more ideas. > > Regards,
Thanks to Devrim for the RPM stuff. On Windows, we expect the installer, no question about that. On Linux, virtually everyone including many beginners become familiar with their package management system, be it yum or apt etc. Many of the readme's, how-to's etc tie into it. The package management tools are packaged with every distro. There is no environment to setup. Whether you are using a headless box or a gnome desktop, there is usually an interface into them. The beginner just tries yum install xxx. I think folks would be surprised that for many folks this is basically IT for them in terms of package installation. Compiling from source, while theoretically sometimes as easy, doesn't happen nearly as often. And if you work with a client, the packaging system is what they know as well. Please, can't you set it up so everything comes from an RPM? I'm one of those people now. I used to compile everything from source, from apache, through php and my database. Had custom build scripts, and the whole works. But I threw it away and use RPM wherever I can. When I see postgresql packaged as an RPM, I'm pretty sure the file paths have been modified to work with my system (they are) and the startup and shutdown scripts tie in nicely (they do). Especially when I just want to play with something, I want the simplest approach possible. And the approach the most folks are familiar with is their package management system. So, what's the point of this rambling? Props to Devrim (and others) for hand-holding us beginners (or lazy ones) with his existing packaging work. It is tremendously appreciated and lowers the barrier to entry more then they release. And I wonder if an effort to take advantage of these existing infrastructures that everyone (including in my mind beginners) are familiar with, might yield good results. - For example, packaging the pgadmin adminpack as an rpm/deb and more of the pgfoundry items would do this. - Or a postgresql repository for apt/yum etc, making upgrading/installing even easier? If this new installer plays nice with existing packaging systems, and has the rules in place to custom compile lots of options, it seems close to providing something in this area already out of necessity. Perhaps a win-win for both areas with a bit of extension (ie, the installer is backed by a repo that other users can use with other tools?) - August ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 3: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faq