I'd like to point out that there is almost no reason why linux games (programs) shouldn't be as easy to install as clicking "game_install.exe" It is possible to statically link the game binary (this actually has very little space overhead most of the time) and basically have the binary runable on most linux systems. I think the main difference is social - Linux programers know their target audience have compilers & enough nous to "./configure;make;make install" - whereas most windows users have no compiler. So if Linux programmers wanted to, they could distribute in a simpler binary form. Also, I would argue that clicking "game_install" is equally as safe as installing from source unless you go through that source & understand everything that it does. Of course, running game_install as a user carries better privledge protection. How many of us blindly run "make; make install" as root for certain apps? I know I do.
Cheers Brad > -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Wilkinson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, 20 August 2003 8:23 p.m. > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Paul Griswald(sp?) just made my night! > > > Hi there, > > Christopher Sawtell wrote: > > > > "emerge vegastrike" is less than 50 characters. :-) > > My 13 and a half year old has been doing that kind of command for > > about 18 > > months now. > > What if the game is not in the current emerge tree? I can > find a linux game I've never heard of every day if I try to > (and I try to!) :-) > > Sadly still not as easy as clicking on 'game_installer.exe' > on a site, then clicking 'Open' when explorer asks you... > > 2 clicks to install a game is all that should be required to > keep it simple for the new (hypothetical) generation of linux users... > > Kind regards, > > Chris Wilkinson, Christchurch. > > PS. Is your boy still keen on some POVray scenes to play > with? I've been having sooo much fun playing with macros to > create objects with blended colours, and other nifty things! > >
