Re: packages and the kernel (long, sorry...)

Kevin M Bealer (kmb203@psu.edu)
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 00:12:13 -0400 (EDT)


On Mon, 10 Jun 1996, Jamie Lokier wrote:

(massive clip)
>
> I would _really_ like to be able to throw together an RPM for the next
> alpha of some package in as long as it takes me to enter the right
> compile and install commands. If the installation wanders outside
> FSSTND, I can always check the file list afterwards.
>
> Ramblings on and on,
> -- Jamie

I agree with most of what you said in that post; however I think there will
always been a need for human intervention in packaging.

Some programs should be removed along with all sorts of things they
created, and some should definitely not.

For example imagine a compiler which generates "pre-compiled headers" like
some of the borland ones do. The headers should probably be removed if
either the compiler _or_ the libraries the headers were made from are
removed.

On the other hand, if /usr/bin/joe was removed from my hard drive along with
everything written by it, there wouldn't be much configuration left.

A human needs to be involved, ideally by writing intelligent package
management, but I don't think it will be possible to write a package manager
that can handle things by itself.

__kmb203@psu.edu_________________________Debian__1.1___Linux__2.0.0___
Pascal, n.: A programming language named after a man who would turn over in
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