Depending on external libraries

[Kaleb S. KEITHLEY]

Daniel Stone wrote:

> On Fri, Mar 12, 2004 at 06:49:49AM -0500, Kaleb S. KEITHLEY wrote:
> 
>>Here, on one of my systems??, there is no expat, and no option to install 
>>it in a way that's remotely analogous to getting the RPM from the distro 
>>CD or a web site and installing it.
> 
> 
> With OS X, you have systems like autopackage, and I'm *sure* there's a
> port for BSD.

No, this is Solaris.

>>Oh, of course I could always just go track down the expat source, build 
>>it, and install it. (So please don't bother to tell me that that's all I 
>>need to do.)
> 
> 
> Or type something like 'jhbuild install expat', or whatever.

You're just moving the problem. Now it's hunt down and build jhbuild first.

> 
> 
>>You guys that are pro-modular-tree keep citing "how easy it (the modular 
>>tree) makes things for people who want to work on the source." Well, 
>>having these dependencies in the monolithic tree makes things easier 
>>too. As big advocates of "making things easier" as you are, I expect 
>>this argument will make perfect sense to you.
> 
> 
> Casting this as 'us vs them' is divisive and unproductive.

Don't be silly. There is a group of people who are pro the modular tree, 
and that is their argument. And if that argument (easier) is valid for 
them, then it is valid here too. And I didn't cast this as 'us vs. 
them.' (You may have chosen to infer that however. Not much I can do 
about that.)

> 
> 
>>Having the build automatically build them too also makes things easier.
> 
> 
> Yes, in some regards. In others, it makes it more complicated.

Yes, it requires the builder to made a simple edit to their site.def 
file. In the grand scheme of things, not very complicated at all.

> 
> 
>>Asking people to edit their site.def or host.def to not build something 
>>isn't asking too much IMO if a system already has the needed dependency. 
>>That's a heck of a lot easier than having to hunt down the source for 
>>something, build it, and install it.
> 
> 
> Or typing one line. Hell, if you have a jhbuild X.Org recipe, you just
> type 'jhbuild install xorg', or whatever.

There is no jhbuild on the boxes I cited. Telling me I've got to go get 
it before I can build is a lot more complicated than it needs to be.

> 
> 
>>If it takes a little more work for "us" to make it easier for our 
>>"customers" then the choice should be obvious.
> 
> 
> Sure - easier for the 'customers'?