Operating Systems > Linux and UNIX
I hate having to ask this, but how do you install programs?
Stryker:
quote:Originally posted by void main:
Have you heard of RPM? RPM is the equivelant of the executable installers you are talking about. You download an RPM you click on it and it installs. The source distributions have nothing to do with one operating system vs another. I can download source distributions for Windows just like I can for Linux and not only is it not easier in Windows when I do this, it is HARDER.
--- End quote ---
I wasn't sure if this was in any reference to my statement, but i mean... why do you need an rpm format either? And windows executable installers are not run through a program run on windows (except maybe the damned install shield stuff), it's all extracted through a self extracting file pending the answers you give to questions during setup. Why don't any linux developers make something like this? rpm may be easier, .tar stuff may have more flexibility, but nobody ever makes a setup program for linux. I've seen maybe 2. I think sun's java stuff has a program you can just do a chmod on and execute. I'm not bashing linux or anything, i love linux, but i'm just curious as to why nobody makes things that don't rely on other programs for it to install, like tar, or gzip, or rpm, or apt-get, or any other method.
Doogee:
quote: Eh, who cares about mainstream america anyway?
--- End quote ---
Good fuckin call, not everything is america. people that think EVERYTHING revolves around america are asshole. sure its massive and has most of the power but thats from a democratic view.
Were talking about software etc, and a software user in "Mainstream America" is just as important as me. Your average Joe Blow aussie.
voidmain:
RPM *is* the setup program. Having executable installation programs is one great way of spreading viruses. It's one of the many many ways viruses and trojans make their way into Windows. RPM extracts, checks signatures, installs, etc. Much more than a self extracting EXE files does. You should be asking why these game companies don't put their games out in an RPM rather than having their own non-standard installer. You can only compare self installing (3rd party install shield stuff) with RPM. You can not compare stuff that is distributed via *.tar.gz files because you can download *.tar.gz (or *.zip) files containing source code for Windows as well. The package manager is equivelant to an self installing executable.
Another big advantage of distributing software in an RPM vs an non-standard installer is that the package gets entered into the RPM database. Your system will know exactly what is installed and what is not. Sure the UT installer is nice but it doesn't register the software into the software management system so how do you remove this software or verify it's components after it's installed? "rpm -V packagename" is a great utility. It will tell if any of your files have been tampered with, among many many other things.
I would much rather see all software distributed via RPM. I get RPMs whenever it's possible (which is 99.9% of the time). Very rarely do I have to build a package from scratch, something you *can't* do in Windows without a compiler.
doublefresh:
Bah! What I meant to say was since when did RPM become part of the kernel? Obviously it's not part of the kernel.
I'm sure if you had a distro that did not include RPM you could install it later. Just like if you installed Winzip later on Microsoft 98.
I would not consider Winzip to be part of the operating system just as I do not think of RPM as part of the operating system. RPM is an add on.
Even though taskman is not part of the kernel most people would agree it's part of the microsoft operating system. Perhaps someone bought Microsoft office with microsoft 98. I would not consider Microsoft office part of the operating system even though the user may have bought the two together for a special price.
I have read a book or two on Linux and I've installed at least 6 different versions of it at one time or another. I do not consider myself comfortable using Linux yet because simple tasks still take me hours and hours. With time I hope to get better. In the meantime when I need to do something quickly I go with what I know, MS. When I have time to burn I try on Mandrake 9
Doogee:
der of course its not part of the kernel but it is included with all RPM based distros, Red Hat, Mandrake, SuSE and sundry. meaning u dont have to download it, unlike winzip on winders.
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