[plug] Controversial comparison of distros?

[Cameron Patrick]

On Mon, Oct 27, 2003 at 04:54:57PM +0800, sscott at iinet.net.au wrote:
| > Why is it a problem if different distributions use different package
| > formats?  
| 
| Easy - people have to make lots of different packages every time they want to 
| release something. All that extra effort because some people cant get past such 
| trivialities and treat package management choice the same as a lifestyle choice.

Meh.  Leave the packaging to people who are good at it - i.e. the
distros.  Software authors can release source tarballs :-)

(None of this applies to proprietary software, of course.  When source
is not available your point has more validity...)

| For something simple like a package management system, we dont need 2 competing 
| open standards - it adds a lot of work. More distros use RPM. It wins.
| 
| Why is this so difficult?

Distributions should be packaging their own software anyway, so it
shouldn't matter what file format they use to distribute it or what
tools they use for installing and managing packages.  Choice of
packaging system is best made on the basis of technical merit and
appropriateness for a given distribution.  If all distributions must do
things the same way, what is the point of having more than one?  We can
all use Red Bloody Hat and be happy with it!

Cameron.

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