Manilal wrote:
I think we should think in this direction. But the main problem who will provide the funds ?
We heavy rely upon the commercial distributions for installing the kernel, shells, cron, gcc, KDE, GNOME and the basic directories and scripts that we collectively call the system. Knoppix, that is released under the GPL, does a decent job of installing these. However, the only issue with Knoppix is that it uses *.deb files to install applications, ie. precompiled software. Ideally, we should compile the other applications we use regularly, from source. This way, we can quickly update with patches, make customizations, make contributions, uninstall old versions and install new releases with ease. The clean and easy installation and distribution method should be preferred.
The source code in tar or bzip files may be expanded in /usr/local/src into their respective directories. A simple script like the one given below, can make and install from the sources:
#!/usr/bin/bash echo "installing apache, php and postgresql ..." cd apache_1.3.20 ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/apache cd ../php-4.3.2 ./configure --with-apache=../apache_1.3.20 --enable-inline-optimization make make install cd ../apache_1.3.20 ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/apache --activate-module=src/modules/php4/libphp4.a make make install cd ../postgresql-7.3.2 ./configure gmake gmake install # installation complete. # start servers ... # /usr/local/apache/bin/apachectl start # read and follow the INSTALL directions for each exit
As you see, it does not require lots of funds to write and use a simple script like this. Further, this is also desirable, because, for an application like php, one may add more arguments to the configure line, if appropriate. The most important thing we can learn from Free Software, is the importance of reasoning for one's self, without shifting this burden to others. Constant reference and use of source code is a must to understand how and why the code works. *rpm and *deb do not encourage reasoning. Seeking source files, and compiling from them, is the right way to stay in control. Once all users understand how to install and use applications directly from the sources, would they seek a commercial package?
Ramanraj K said on Sat, Dec 06, 2003 at 07:33:17AM +0530,:
issue with Knoppix is that it uses *.deb files to install applications, ie. precompiled software. Ideally, we should compile the other applications we use regularly, from source. This way, we can quickly update with patches, make customizations, make contributions, uninstall old versions and install new releases with ease. The clean and easy installation and distribution method should be preferred.
Users can get source packages in both RPM and Debian's dpkg system.
In Debian, simply open your /etc/apt/sources.list file, and remove the # character at beginning of the lines starting with ` #deb-src'.
Uninstallation is equally easy. For details do a `man apt-get' and `man dpkg'.
Debian is not a corporation; it is a voluntary community.
We heavy rely upon the commercial distributions for installing the kernel, shells, cron, gcc, KDE, GNOME and the basic directories and scripts that we collectively call the system.
The main problem with the commercial distributions of GNU/Linux is that they all (based on the last info available to me) include some non-free software. That is a problem we very much want to solve.
Ideally, we should compile the other applications we use regularly, from source.
There is someone who is trying to create a GNU package to help users do this. I am not sure he has the ability to make it technically as good as "Linux" From Scratch, but if some of you want to do a lot of work on it, maybe that is enough resources to compete. Are people interested?
On Thursday 01 Jan 1970 5:30 am, you wrote:
Ideally, we should compile the other applications we use regularly, from source.There is someone who is trying to create a GNU package to help users do this. I am not sure he has the ability to make it technically as good as "Linux" From Scratch, but if some of you want to do a lot of work on it, maybe that is enough resources to compete. Are people interested?
Can you point us to more information on this?
Regards
Rishi
Please write to dhorton@megsinet.net and say you're interested in helping develop Architect. Tell him I sent you.
On Sat, Dec 06, 2003 at 07:33:17AM +0530, Ramanraj K wrote:
The source code in tar or bzip files may be expanded in /usr/local/src into their respective directories. A simple script like the one given below, can make and install from the sources:
Try gentoo http://www.gentoo.org
stage1 does excatly the same, use source code in the /usr/portage/distfiles or download the source code from any of the mirrors into that directory compile the package and install on the system.
with regards
M.Balakrishna Pillai
-
M. Balakrishna Pillai -
Mahesh T. Pai -
Ramanraj K -
Richard Stallman -
Rishi Gangoly