Re: Netsaint Debian packages

On 2.11.2002 17:42 Uhr, "Ben Bell" <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sat, Nov 02, 2002 at 05:33:36PM +0100, Zeno Davatz wrote:
>> I am relatively new to Debian. In the beginning I noticed the great
>> advantage of 'apt-get install'. Then I started to realise that if the
>> package was not of 'good quality' that it would be easier to either make
>> your own package or compile from source.
> Generally I think Debian packages are pretty solid, though there are some
> exceptions.
> 
>> The nice thing about compiling from source is that you get to know the
>> 'innerism' of the program. That is not the case if you install from a
>> package.
> This is definitely the big argument for compiling the package yourself.
> You get to know more about how it's put together. If you can be bothered
> with the extra work a good thing to do is to package the software for your
> distribution, even if it's just for your own use. Then you get the benefits
> of increased understanding and tuning for you purpose along with the
> manageability that packages give you (removeability, warning your of
> conflicts and dependency problems if you try and upgrade something and
> so on). I never install software "as it comes" on my system any more. It
> always gets at list simple packaging for the reasons above.
> But then I'm a Debian and Package bigot :-)

Yes. You are obviously a skilled packager. I am maybe a junior packager - or
not even that.

I just noticed that I'm faster if I compile from source, if there is a bad
package. I also noticed that you can install a bad package but if you want
to remove it you get bloody dependency problems and that I take personally
:-/ - Arrrgh - Stress.

If you install from source and you mess up its you. If you install a package
and it does not work you have no _idea_what_so_ever where the problem could
be - if you are a Newbie it is even more so.

For me the actual question is: How can the skilled packager teach the junior
packager how to make good packages. So for me this is all about knowledge
transfer and Open Source communication.

Zeno



-------------------------------------------------------
This sf.net email is sponsored by: See the NEW Palm 
Tungsten T handheld. Power & Color in a compact size!
http://ads.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/redirect.pl?palm0001en