I used the TexLive installer rather than the Ubuntu package manager because I wanted to use TLMGR to update the TexxLive packages.  The Ubuntu repositories are notoriously out of date.

Ehud Kaplan


On 11/7/19 9:48 AM, Helge Hafting wrote:

Den 12.10.2019 17:46, skrev UD Kap:
In the few times I had to install TexLive in Linux, it was always a nightmare (paths, privileges, dependencies..), especially to get an installation in which tlmgr was working.  It is frustrating that such an important piece of software doesn't have a smooth installation method.  I realize that they want to have a system which can be updated without the linux package manager, but there ought to be some better way.

If you want easy TexLive in Linux, install using the distro package manager ONLY.  Many distros do a good job packaging texlive, and offer easy upgrades whenever TexLive itself is updated.  TexLive may be split into 5-10 packages; pick what you need or just install all of it if you want an easy (albeit disk-consuming) install.

This goes for any software. Use the distro package manager, and only that.  Obviously, go for a distro that packages just about all the software you want.  Debian, or some Debian-derivative like Ubuntu may be a good choice.

Downloading software and installing it outside the package manager is possible, but it is always more work than just using the package manager. Keeping such software up-to-date is more work, and sometimes the package manager will install upgrades not compatible with your "outsider" software. There are usually no such problems when using the package manager exclusively.  (It may happen, but that is considered a bug in the distro, so they work hard to avoid that.)

Installing a big piece of software, such as Texlive, outside of the distro package manager is harder. You will then have to deal with paths, privileges and dependencies.  That may be ok for an experienced linux sysadmin - but it is not a smooth method. For smooth, use the package manager every time, and a distro that has what you need.

Helge Hafting

--
     Ehud Kaplan, Ph.D.
     Visiting Professor
     Dept. of Philosophy & History of Science
     Charles University, Prague
     &
     the National Institute of Mental Health,
     Topolová 748, Klecany
     Czechia
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