Cross-distro packages
There's an article on Linux.com about autopackage. I don't agree with numerous aspects of what they say, but their end goal is one that more Linux, BSD, and any other *Nix users might want to think about.
I first came across Autopackage in a reference in a Linux magazine. They explained the challenges of supplying software on a disc on the front cover for Linux users with the multitude of package managers: Do they supply RPM, .deb, .tgz, source code, or all of them?
And when you think about it, it's a tough one: Source code is universal, but it's slow and a bit of a black art to have the compiled product be installed so your package manager will know about it. You could supply a compiled, self-contained binary that you can even run off the CD, but then you hit architecture worries.
I suppose that as broadband becomes ever faster and more widespread, we'll just stop bothering with disks on the cover. But at present, it's sometimes nice to be able to just run some fun new software off a CD. A system that makes that easily possible, across all distros & hardware architectures, would certainly be useful.
Of course, just writing the apps in a cross-platform language like Python would solve the problem as well, but I don't think the world is ready for KDE written in Python ;o)
I first came across Autopackage in a reference in a Linux magazine. They explained the challenges of supplying software on a disc on the front cover for Linux users with the multitude of package managers: Do they supply RPM, .deb, .tgz, source code, or all of them?
And when you think about it, it's a tough one: Source code is universal, but it's slow and a bit of a black art to have the compiled product be installed so your package manager will know about it. You could supply a compiled, self-contained binary that you can even run off the CD, but then you hit architecture worries.
I suppose that as broadband becomes ever faster and more widespread, we'll just stop bothering with disks on the cover. But at present, it's sometimes nice to be able to just run some fun new software off a CD. A system that makes that easily possible, across all distros & hardware architectures, would certainly be useful.
Of course, just writing the apps in a cross-platform language like Python would solve the problem as well, but I don't think the world is ready for KDE written in Python ;o)
1 Comments:
the fun thing about black arts is mastering them. I love the challenge of compiling from code.
crossplatform programs/languages rock! (python, java)
I guess us geeks will have to wake up to the fact that Linux needs to be more idiot/user/corporation friendly and moves like this will be the fruit of such a movement.
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