On 16/09/2007, Peter Tribble <peter.tribble at gmail.com> wrote: > On 9/16/07, Danek Duvall <danek.duvall at sun.com> wrote: > > On Sun, Sep 16, 2007 at 07:34:30PM +0100, Peter Tribble wrote: > > > How does this work without a repository? > > > > Without a repository? For the moment, we assume one, even if it's local. > > We'll probably have to move beyond that, but I don't think it's going to > > prove to be a common occurrence. > > Oh, I would assume that not having a repository would be the most > common case. Most software suppliers wouldn't have one; most > delivery mechanisms wouldn't support one. > > The repository model works fine if you're (a) talking about bundled > software, and (b) you're prepared to trust the repository to make > decisions for you. (In this I include the model where the customer can > establish their own repository which can proxy or aggregate software > according to local need, so they can determine what's included in the > scope of the repository and what the policies are. And there would be > the need to supply the capability for anybody to do that.) > > The problem arises if you don't do that. MegaCorp may have some > heavily protected download system you have to go through that > doesn't fit into a repository model; individuals building up packages > to send to their friends shouldn't have to worry about the complexity. > Distribution may be via ftp, e-mail attachments, disks on magazine > covers, memory sticks given out at trade shows. And then many IT > departments build their own deployment mechanisms that you > have to submit to. > > So the repository is a nice optimization; it cannot be a critical > component.
In principle, I agree, but from the technical side, I suppose it all depends on what you consider a repository. i.e. is a zip file a "local self-contained repository" ? :) I'm only half-joking... -- Shawn Walker, Software and Systems Analyst binarycrusader at gmail.com - http://binarycrusader.blogspot.com/ "Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it. " --Donald Knuth
