All,
This missive could be entitled "This is Unix--Know what You Don't Know
and Accept the Risks or Stay out of the Ocean and swim when Apple
builds you a safe swimming pool". If they ever do that is. The freedom
of Open Source software means you can install many things that didn't
come with your system--it doesn't mean you should. But if you do, you
must accept the risks of doing so. I personally apply a different
standard and duty of care to an established vendor like Apple than I do
the fink team. And frankly, my adjusted expectations are more often
disappointed by Apple who work full-time and profit from selling me
their products than the fink team who work for free and graciously
volunteer their time and expertise despite the ungratefulness of some
users.
I hear all the complaints regarding people's frustration with fink and
it harkens me back to my days as a Sun Systems Engineer. For those of
us who take the time to learn and accept the consequences of our
mistakes, fink opens up very powerful tools that until now were mostly
available to high-end Unix workstation owners. And, as most of them
will tell you, installing those tools on Solaris SPARC and keeping up
with all the patch packages required quite a bit of system
knowledge--it is not for your average iMac user.
Cutting edge Unix will never be like the Macintosh or Windows in terms
of turn-key operation, but then most powerful tools have prerequisite
skill sets and require a mindset that is cautious but understands the
assumed risks and plans for and accepts failures. Perhaps an analogy is
appropriate. Driving a turbo-charged Porsche efficiently and high
speeds on winding mountain roads requires some skill and knowledge.
Your average family van owner isn't up to it unless they are willing to
attack a steep learning curve and deal with beginner frustration and
prudently take some risks.
1. Backup before major upgrades:I use CCC to backup my disk before any
kind of major upgrade--and I have never felt that was a waste of
time--never.
2. Read the documentation thoroughly. If the documentation is
inadequate-pitch in and write some!
3. And lastly before you complain compare. Compare the power of OS X
Unix with fink to Windows XP. And compare the OS X UI and programs like
Final Cut Pro, Office X, Project Builder, the Adobe Suite (Photoshop,
After Effects, Illustrator, et al), Universe 5 with Linux desktops .
Think about your alternatives. If you like them better, go ahead slip
behind the wheel of that van and be happy. Me I'll take the Porsche any
day. But don't yell at me out your van window as I blow by you and tell
me that the Porsche should be easier to drive--it is not civil nor
reasonable. Be an adult and live with your choices. Besides, I can't
hear you over the roar of 400 horses in the engine and the sound of the
cool crisp mountain air whistling in my ears. I wouldn't rather be
behind the wheel of anything else. Fink Project team, thank you.
Daniel Lord
--
daniellordATtelocityDOTcom
GPG Fingerprint: C59E 59F5 1C63 5CFB 6161 067E FF00 A4E8 684A 16BB
"The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from
these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in
blood for centuries." [James Madison, 1803]
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