Hello, My input is this: I think a lot of confusion stems from some documentation that just needs to be cleared up.
I think that just cleaning up the pages so that: * http://www.haskell.org/cabal has binaries for Tier 1 platforms: OS X, Windows, FreeBSD i386/amd64, Linux i386/amd64. IMO, there should be a clear 'Download pre-built binaries' on the immediate front page that cannot be missed. * http://www.haskell.org/ghc/download still points to the platform for most users (i.e. the platform is more long-term stable/supported,) but also mentions cabal install binaries. They can be linked to directly from the subsection for each platform: "Download GHC 7.8.1 Mac OS X x86-64 - also download <latest cabal-install OS X build> from here" I personally think this would go a significant way to making it easier for people to bootstrap environments. (IMO, both the GHC and Cabal homepage could both do with a visual makeover as well, to make this all the more apparent and easily accessible.) As for cabal install binaries: I can easily provide dedicated hardware (thanks to Rackspace) for Windows, FreeBSD or Linux build machines. I also have a dedicated OS X machine in Oxford (thanks to Duncan) that can be used to build binaries for OS X as well. So I can absolutely provide resources for Cabal developers to build them if they'd like. At least for T1 platforms. As for shipping with GHC itself: this is technically possible, but slightly annoying to implement, and it also makes the build processes for a release slightly more annoying (which is mostly my problem.) But it is all doable. However, keep in mind I *do not* maintain the binary distributions for everything, nor do Cabal devs have access to all hardware - so all people making upstream releases for their platforms (i.e. Solaris, PowerPC, ARM/Linux, etc) must also package cabal themselves. But perhaps that's not a huge deal. I guess my vote on this is ultimately neutral. I think it can be fixed by simply making the downloads more clear. Alternatively we can package cabal-install. I'll leave the decision up to users at large and their votes. On Sun, Jan 26, 2014 at 7:08 AM, Daniil Frumin <difru...@gmail.com> wrote: > cabal-install doesn't even have to be distributed in one tar.gz with > GHC, just merely mentioning cabal-install binaries on > http://www.haskell.org/ghc/download will surely help (assuming we get > to actually have the cabal-install binaries :) > > On Sat, Jan 25, 2014 at 10:48 PM, Gábor Lehel <glaebho...@gmail.com> wrote: >> +1 to this proposal. The benefits are obvious and practical: when installing >> a new GHC, it will save users the tedium of having to figure out how to >> build a cabal-install and then do so before they can install the packages >> they actually want. The drawbacks are indefinite and amorphous: the download >> is a little bit larger. So what? It further blurs the line between GHC and >> the Platform. Who does this harm? People who already have a cabal-install >> will now have a second one. What discomfort will this cause them? >> >> >> On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 1:02 AM, Carter Schonwald >> <carter.schonw...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hey everyone, >>> >>> I'd like to propose that GHC releases 7.8.1 onwards include a >>> cabal-install (aka cabal) executable, but not include the library deps of >>> cabal-install that aren't already distributed with ghc.(unless ghc should >>> have those deps baked in, which theres very very good reasons not to do.). >>> >>> currently if someone wants just a basic haskell install of the freshest >>> ghc they have to install a ghc bindist, then do a boostrap build of >>> cabal-install by hand (if they want to actually get anything done :) ). >>> >>> This is not a human friendly situation for folks who are new to haskell >>> tooling, but want to try out haskell dev on a server style vm or the like! >>> >>> point being: It'd be great for haskell usability (and egads amounts of >>> config time, even by seasoned users) the ghc bindists / installers included >>> a cabal-install binary >>> >>> thoughts? >>> -Carter >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Glasgow-haskell-users mailing list >>> Glasgow-haskell-users@haskell.org >>> http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/glasgow-haskell-users >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Glasgow-haskell-users mailing list >> Glasgow-haskell-users@haskell.org >> http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/glasgow-haskell-users >> > > > > -- > Sincerely yours, > -- Daniil > _______________________________________________ > Glasgow-haskell-users mailing list > Glasgow-haskell-users@haskell.org > http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/glasgow-haskell-users > -- Regards, Austin Seipp, Haskell Consultant Well-Typed LLP, http://www.well-typed.com/ _______________________________________________ Glasgow-haskell-users mailing list Glasgow-haskell-users@haskell.org http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/glasgow-haskell-users
