Re: Linux ease of use

On Mon, 2003-08-18 at 00:17, Alex Netherton wrote:

> My question; why can't the developers of Linux (and I know there are
> millions of them) develop some way that you can download a file, or
> find a file on CD, click it and it installs itself?


I am trying to do exactly that, but I don't get the
support that I need from the ultra-conservative
development community.

I have already developed a program that allows you to
install a package with one command-line, a very *simple*
command-line (without any options). Yes, assuming that
everything is configured propperly, that's all it would
take, one command:
  %> ibox3 package.box

(assuming your file is called "package.box")

Or, if you want the installation to take place in a
separate terminal window (instead of the terminal
window you're working on) the command you type is:
  %> xwn-ibox3 package.box


(NOTE: The "xwn-ibox3" command was added to Boxenv
today, so it will probably be available tomorrow in
the publically-viewable CVS archive. But I've tested
it. It works.)


So, really, getting a double-click install system fully
functional in Linux is only a matter of 2 things: (1)
mapping the ".box" extention to the "xwn-ibox3" command
in the GUI menus and (2) getting people in all strata
of the Linux community to *notice* Boxenv (and they can
visit http://boxenv.com or http://boxenv.sourceforge.net
to find more about this Open Source project).


What can you do to support this?


If you are a Linux distributor, try to get it set up
so that Boxenv comes pre-installed and pre-configured
in your distro. And, oh yes, if your distro has a GUI
make sure to map the ".box" extention to the "xwn-ibox3"
command.

If you are a distributor or vendor of any third-party
software products, make sure that your programs are
available as Boxenv packages.

And this way, we will finally be able to have programs
that you can install on Linux just by double-clicking
them.