My rant about the Linux world

[antipacket]

Since the beggining of using Linux, I have had a frustration with distro's.
Not the concept of distro's (I think thats great), but the fact that every distro (too my knowledge) modifies software they put into their distro.

I am running Ubuntu 10.04 LTS.
Recently, I wanted to check out Firefox 5, so I downloaded the source and went to compile it. I couldn't compile it because the zlib was outdated on my system, so I went to the zlib website and downloaded the latest tarball, compiled... and then my Ubuntu broke.
It seems that the zlib in Ubuntu 10.04 LTS is a version modified by Canonical, and future upgrades of zlib will not be possible for me, as Ubuntu does not have the latest zlib in their repository for my version of Ubuntu.

I think distrobutors should stop folking everyones software, and just leave it be with the official version.
It does nothing but create a mess.

Some say they its done to 'patch/work around/regression' software to get it working. Well hey! If thats how you have to use the software then that software is junk and don't use it... that way the developer might get the hint to check out the meaning of quality control.
... and if software suffers regression on an update, then the software was not ready for release. Microsoft rarely have this problem from my experience, WTF is too many Linux developers doing releasing software that brakes compatibility? Theres no race! They should take as long as it does to get it right.


Another thing that pisses me off:

When I goto some download sites, under O/S I see "Windows", "Mac",... then I see "Ubuntu" "Debian" "Gentoo" "Fedora", etc, etc, etc...

This furiates me because there is no such thing as an Ubuntu or 'Fedora' operating system. Linux is Linux and this is how it should be.
All that does is create huge ammounts of confusion, and epicly damages the expansion of Linux - if software will only work on a specific distro. Lame!

In regards to packages, I think developers should dump package management systems such as apt and yum and synaptic and distribute software as a .run or .sh file that self-installs.
I.E AfterLogic's MailSuite Pro can only be installed via RPM and DEB, so, what happens to the others who don't use those package systems?!!

A way to easily update a system will need to be introduced for sure. Well, my idea is that the actual software have a built-in feature to check itself - like Virtualbox.
This still wouldn't solve the problem of software like coretools, and the Linux kernel itself checking, but we could find a new way for this.
So, what would all this achieve? It would rid the annoying targeting of distro's, rather than Linux. This means that no matter what distro you use, you can use software.


My goal now is to build my own Linux system from scratch.

I have yet been able to locate the GNOME2 on GNOME's hoepless website. I read GNOME2 is a major mind f**k to compile. I wish also wish some developers would make there software easier to compile. gcc style is nice and easy.
It also has nothing to do with being a noob. Who can be seriously bothered wasting there life on such inefficient, poorly designed procedures.

Linux is f**kin awesome!... but the problem is there are allot of trash quality software out there. Sure, people mostly write free software, but far out, if your gonna spend time on something, then get it right.
What also annoys me is developers adding new features into their products when their product is still unstable.
My philosophy, would be to address new features only once everything is stable, and if a bug is detected whilst working on new features, all new feature work shall come to a halt and a release will be issued for the sole purpose of fixing that bug. I hope more developers would be like this!

[nujinini]

My goal now is to build my own Linux system from scratch.

That would be a challenging thing to do and yet I'm pretty sure very rewarding!

[madhatter632]

knowledge is power and also some understanding in the case of linux for example when they list packages as "ubuntu/debian or fedora" you do realize that those packages are .DEB and .RPM packs right and if your linux distro is based off of one of the there for mentioned distro's you'd use the corresponding package, just like wanting to try out firefox 5 it seems your going the long way around the problem to get firefox 5 running, good luck on creating your own distro though .

[edgley]

You'll have to forgive me if I take what you mean in the wrong way, as I skim read your post.

Canonical and some other bigger distro developers do modify their libraries, but many independent distro's do not for the exact reason you mention. I've yet to find an out of date library on Arch Linux (though I can't say if they are just very quick at updates, or definitely don't modify the code).

I agree that downloads should not state they are only for certain distros, but you can extract the contents of RPM and DEB files and manually install them on other distros. I do this quite often in fact, if I cannot find the source code or am too lazy to look for it.

Installers are a better way for sure but there needs to be a more unified "script" to use as a base for these installers. Many developers make their own and that leads to different prerequisites and inconsistencies.

[elija]

Linux is different to Windows. Deal with it. :shrugs:

[jayd512]

Linux is different to Windows. Deal with it. :shrugs:

Yeah... pretty much.
Having different methods of package management and installation is what gives us the variety and choice that we, as Linux lovers, thrive on.
If I wanted to use an OS that had a more 'unified' method of doing things, I'd be running Windows or a Mac.

[sgosnell]

Try Debian. It's pretty much vanilla, and Ubuntu uses Debian Unstable as its base for most releases, Debian Testing for LTS releases, then modifies it. Debian does modify Firefox, removing the non-free bits and calling the result Iceweasel, and it's the same for Icedove (Thunderbird) and other Mozilla stuff, all this at Mozilla's request, but the result is pretty much identical with the original. Ubuntu is different from most distros, so don't judge Linux by Ubuntu.

[antipacket]

Linux is different to Windows. Deal with it. :shrugs:

Thanks for that Captain Obvious.
"Deal with it"... not the alpha male type of guy arn't you?!... I don't just deal with things that I don't like, I try and improve it.

Yeah... pretty much.
Having different methods of package management and installation is what gives us the variety and choice that we, as Linux lovers, thrive on.
If I wanted to use an OS that had a more 'unified' method of doing things, I'd be running Windows or a Mac.

What choice are you going to have when your running Ubuntu and software is only released as a RPM package?... nice choice you have there.

Try Debian. It's pretty much vanilla, and Ubuntu uses Debian Unstable as its base for most releases, Debian Testing for LTS releases, then modifies it.

No, and If you read my post correctly, you would have seen I don't like using modified software. Why would you then recommend I use Debian?!

Debian is what Ubuntu is built upon, you can be sure I'd experience the same limitations like I did with zlib on Ubuntu.
Building your own Linux system is the only way to go to prevent those limitations from happening.

don't judge Linux by Ubuntu.

Where have I judged Linux by Ubuntu?

[jayd512]

What choice are you going to have when your running Ubuntu and software is only released as a RPM package?... nice choice you have there

Either use the source code, use a command like alien, or contact the developer.

Quite simple, really.

Choice. Wonderful thing.

By the way... my main OS at this point happens to BE Ubuntu.

[elija]

Depends on your definition of "Alpha Male". If you mean it in the neanderthal sense of can I run down an antelope and kill it with a single manly blow to the forehead, I would have to say not while there's a single Pot Noodle left in the world. However if you mean in the 21st century sense of can I configure and secure my own network without any reference material, then definitely!

I'm assuming that like everyone else that you tried Linux because you were hoping for something better. Frankly, most people are intelligent enough to realise that this will also mean something different and that using something different will entail a learning curve. If you are unhappy with that concept then it's best to stick with what you know.

Oh and for what it's worth, as a non Ubuntu user, it took all of 30 seconds to track this solution down using this tool which is quite the coming thing I hear.

See you around brainiac.