[NTLUG:Discuss] An NTLUG Distro

[Wayne Walker]

On Thu, Apr 02, 2009 at 01:26:20PM -0500, Kenneth Loafman wrote:
> 
> What rpm needs then is something like apt that does the resolution of
> packages.  Is that Yum?  My complaint against RPM is that when using it
> I get trapped in this infinitely recursive 'X depends on Y which depends
> on Z which...".  If Yum does the same as Apt, then my complaint is negated.
Yes, yum is roughly equivalent to apt-get or aptitude.

> Whatever management system used must resolve package dependencies
> without annoying the user.  That was my only real requirement.

Agreed.

> My original post was more of an attempt at pointing out why distros are
> hard to build.  They are normally a compromise of different requirements
> such as the above.  Building a distro is not hard, just tedious.
> Getting consensus on what goes in one is the hard part.

The best languages on the planet are that way because they were written
by a single individual.  The "design by committee" model produces a
conglomeration of different viewpoints and is therefore usually
self-inconsistent.

> I really do agree with Neil that we should adopt a distro, not fragment
> the field any more.  The main reason Microsoft is popular with Pointy
> Haired Bosses is actually the lack of choices, not the plethora of
> choices that the Linux newbie sees.  That plus the old Brick and Mortar
> thing that MS has going for it, being a major corporation and all.
> 
> Just getting consensus on what distro to adopt will generate enough
> email to choke the system.  Out of the N members of the club, there will
> be at least N*10 opinions to be considered.

Adopting is a good way to go.

-- 

Wayne Walker
wwalker at bybent.com