[plug] hmmm Linus being opinionated again :-P

[Bernd Felsche]

"simon" <simon at chrome64.org> writes:
>Bernd Felsche (bernie at innovative.iinet.net.au) wrote:

>> 2) Installing stuff that'll never be needed could be avoided if
>>    there were sufficient hooks to install on demand by application
>>    or even type of file. Users should not be expected to know which
>>    application is required; they should need only point to a file
>>    to open and the system should suggest a few options.

>Nice idea. Do you know of any projects along these lines, perhaps
>wrapping around urpmi/apt-get/whatever?

I don't know of any projects o do that. They'd need to integrate
with the desktop environment and file browsers for "normal" users.
As per the "Open with..." menu option.

Whatever it is, it could certainly exploit existing package
management facilities; but those in themselves must declare what
file types they support. Package descriptions would have to be
loaded at "installation" time to provide the user with detailed
information about each application that offers support for a
particular file type.

Internet-connected users could refer to "known" web sites for
applications that support unknown/further file types simply by
sending a query with file type and application platform details.
-- 
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