Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 00:07:09 -0500
From: Clarence Verge <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: A Shocking Tale (was Re: icewm vs. fvwm2)
<snip>
If Linux is so flaky (I KNOW that's gonna cause a rukus) that a program
compiled by someone else yesterday won't run on my Linux today, then I
would have to conclude that Linux is still too immature for general use. ;-)
While I understand that programs written for W98 may not run on W95 and
WILL not run on W3.1, and with Linux we have a similar situation, I would
argue that just means 32bit Windows is immature also.
DOS is mature enough for general use. Too bad it's also dead. :(
- - Clarence Verge
- --
- - Help stamp out FATWARE. As a start visit: http://home.arachne.cz/
- - The internet is infected - Windows is a VIRUS !!
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------------------------------
Well, there are two things responsible for this mess.
1. GPL (GNU public license) states clearly that distributing the source of the
program is compulsory.
2. The shared libraries. DOS programs are statically linked only. Linux
programs may be linked both statically and dynamically. I won't plea for the
advantages of a shared library here. The trouble is shared libraries evolve
like any other piece of software.
The install kit of a Win 9x application contains also the necessary shared
libraries (called DLL's) necessary to run the respective. program. They were
the newest versions of DLL's at the time the application was released. Some
setup wizards do not necessarily verify neither if the user has got them
already, nor if those already there are newer - the program has been linked to
use its particular versions. This can result in forced upgrades or downgrades
and trashing of the system. ("Have you reinstalled Windows this week ?" they
say )
Linux offers these three alternatives: 1. Finding the appropriate set of
binaries 2. Statically linked programs (mostly commercial applications-- they
have to run anywhere) 3. Compiling from sources.
Neither of them trashes your system.
Regards
Cristian Burneci (too lazy to compose himself an e-mail signature)
