[plug] Gentoo on APC cover disc

[Tomasz Grzegurzko]

On 7/5/07, hatari at iinet.net.au <hatari at iinet.net.au> wrote:
> Yes, Jim.....
>
> FYI and FYI-PLUG
> To me the real problem with Linux is the program-dependency problem.  With so many
> programs being developed from all directions (ie open-source) there aren't solid strategies to
> maintain consistency or consistent installation.  Many programs that I try to load or run have
> "dependencies".  I know that you can do things like apt-get but that maintains an "ongoing"
> update pathway (extremely annoying).  It would be great if there was some kind of procedure
> or standard that guaranteed open-source development or usage was guaranteed 1st pop (or
> very close to it).
>

Many people have stated the same trouble with the Kernel; to have a
stable API that third parties can always rely upon. While this is 900%
needed in a binary-only environment, the beauty of open source is that
you can change the API when you need to and other people can see that
change and react accordingly too. The extremely fast pace of kernel
development in that instance means that without the flexibility to
change things when they are fundamentally needed works two ways: it
breaks APIs, and drags dependencies all over the place like you're
saying, but it also leaves behind legacy crap that needs rethinking. I
pity the designers of x86 CPUs because they are dragging their heels
along so much legacy junk for instance.

Linux is the most willing to break with legacy. The second most
company I've seen on a big scale do this is Apple; first with a
Unix-based OS, then with a totally different architecture. The one
I've seen do this least is Micro$oft. Think about how long it took
them to even merge two Win32's -- the DOS line and the NT line. And
they've done it along with many compromises (ie. security).

I understand a "user" viewpoint of this frustration, it's hard to keep
up because things change so quickly! There is an advantage to this
though and that is flexibility... It's amazing that programs like apt
can cope so well, which is why package "managers" (not that add/remove
programs crap" have become thousands of times more powerful and
useful. How many other operating systems can upgrade (not update)
themselves while still running on the fly? This is due to the power of
package *management*.

I've found this dependency hell gets mostly solved when one learns to
use package managers to their fullest potential.

Regards,
Tomasz