Quoting Jay Strauss ([EMAIL PROTECTED]): > What's the drawback of just using the java installer/binary from > java.sun.com? I don't really need the apt advantages....
Distributions' packagers perform valuable quality control and distro-specific porting. E.g., all the pieces land where they're supposed to, and interact with the system in accordance with its policy. Given that you're a Debian guy, I imagine you're aware of the importance of policy. ;-> Also, this ensures that the software is known to your software-registration system. (That has nothing to do with apt. It would apply equally well if you used carrier pigeons, floppy disks, and "dpkg -i".) > I wouldn't want java just updated automatically when I do apt-get > upgrade anyway. If software that uses it is likewise known to the software-registration system, you most certainly (logically) would. However, having the package (thus) known to the software-registration system doesn't mean it need be "updated automatically" unless you want it to: You may want to look up how to set package "hold" status using dpkg, dselect, etc. Locally installing software (/usr/local, /opt -- i.e., not under software-tracking) when you don't have to strikes me as a ghastly mistake, generally, and I'm sure more reasons than I've cited above will occur to you. If you're stuck, read my EBLUG-talk slides on http://linuxmafia.com/presentations/ , and note the lessons drawn from the tcp-wrappers-7.6.tar.gz trojaning in 1999, for one reason. ;-> -- Cheers, Hardware: The part you kick. Rick Moen Software: The part you boot. [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ vox-tech mailing list vox-tech@lists.lugod.org http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech