Way back when, Debian tried to solve this by being the Ham Friendly distro and most ham programmers used Debian.
Today programmers like one distro or another and don't generally tell you what distro they used. If they do, then you might want to use that distro. The problem is, as you have noted, is that various programmers use different distros. I believe the solution is for programmers and/or Beta testers, to try out the program on other distros than what the programmer used and report want additional libraries will be required for a specific distribution. I have also found that even between various releases of the same distributions that the library requirements change. This was suppose to be solved by making a program install using RPMs...all the libraries (dependencies) were there. But not everyone uses RPMs...they use something newer. I encourage all Linux programmers of amateur radio applications to list all the dependencies needed and specify the distro and release of the distro that they used. I also encourage the programmers to ask Beta testers to try their applications on various common distros and list any additional dependencies needed and the URL to the dependency. Over the years, I have been more than satisfied with Linux (since kernel 0.98a) but have been frustrated with adding dependencies. I work in a MS world and everything I have to go through to keep MS client and servers up-to-date and running I will NOT tolerate at home where I use the computer for "FUN". 73, Walt/K5YFW -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Kevin O'Rorke Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:47 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Linux versis Windows: Let the debate begin!! JOHN said > I have this mental picture of linux users hunched over their > computers, eyes red and glazed , looking for WMD (What Microsoft > Did), toiling for hours to make unsupported software run. > > Sorry Guys, I'm with Bill Gates, he developed an operating system that > mostly works, and let's me get on with chasing DX instead > of trying to make it work. If he happened to be very rich doing this, > good on him!!! > > John > VE5MU I am one of those interested in Linux , and have reached the stage where I know my way around it fairly well, I have experimented with a variety of distro's,.and they are mostly a superb replacement for Win in the ordinary Home or Office environment, BUT the biggest problem with Linux for the ham or experimenter is the installation of programs. You download a program, and attempt to install it. You get a message that you need such and such a thing (library or whatever). You go on the Internet, download that, go to install that, get another message " you need x", you get "x", go to install it and get a message "you need version y of x", you attempt to find version "y" and cant find it. At this stage you give up, have three triple brandy's, and fire up Windows! I know some geeks out there will say "get a pre-compiled version". You cannot find one for your distro, or not one at all. Seriously, until Linux programs can be installed as easily and reliably as Windows programs (I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD AN INSTALLATION PROBLEM IN WIN) then Linux has not a dogs chance in Hell of competing with Windows. I enjoy the challenge of fighting with Linux and consider myself an apprentice geek in that realm, but really what John says is, unfortunately true. Kevin VK5OA PS. I am aware of Harvs Hamshack Hack, and have it. Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org Yahoo! Groups Links
