I always edit my config files by hand and use a BSD-style init. Therefore,
for me to have complete control over an install is really essential. It is
illogical to assume that everybody has their machines set up the same way,
and that everybody has the same versions of this, that, and something else
installed. This is why I allways install from source now. At least by
installing from source I am guaranteed to know why an install failed, and to
be able to fix it so that it doesn't fail again.
In any case I do not want my linux installs to function as well as windows
update (it fubar'd at least one W9x machine on me.....). Also, I want those
installs to be intelligent, and to give me easily scriptable options. Sounds
a hell of a lot like installing from source (once you use some pre-compiled
binaries, possibly in the form of packages, to get off the ground).
Seth Arnold wrote:
> * Jeff Bond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [010402 01:06]:
> > You don't need to know where the files end up with RPMs. When you
> > uninstall an RPM, the database knows where all the files are and deletes
> > them for you.
>
> [Sorry for straying so far off topic by this point. If it is best this
> thread should die, let me know.]
>
> This is exactly the problem. If the rpm just happens to provide
> /sbin/init, /bin/ls, /bin/grep, or any other program liable to be
> exectued by a user or by root, I damn well want to know that the package
> intends to install a new version and/or refuse to delete important
> programs upon uninstall.
>
> I am just paranoid enough that I don't trust anyone except my OS vender
> to get these things right. :) (And that only because I figure someone
> else will notice the problem before I get around to upgrading. :)
>
> As for the problem of "when should plex86 make packages available if the
> decision has been made to make packages available", snapshot times make
> sense to me, or during bug-hunting season and more eyes are desired to
> help find the bugs. <shrug> I figure Kevin (and others?) will know When
> The Right Time Is. He (they?) know better than anyone else what sort of
> support issues he (they?) want to deal with how often. :)
>
> Cheers! :)
>
> --
> Earthlink: The #1 provider of unsolicited bulk email to the Internet.
--
Drew Northup, N1XIM
