Re: [tdf-discuss] Request: Installation Instructions

On 22/11/10 17:58, Rene Engelhard wrote:
> Beisde that, you agree that .deb is what users should know. How on earth are they
> then NOT to know how to install them? (And install all of debs one program consists
> of?)
I'm but a lowly Ubuntu user Rene, and I usually favour the use of
repositories which should nominally include all dependencies. But when
no repository is forth coming, as is the case with LibO (x86-64) I am
forced to slum it and use .deb files. The usual behavior when
double-clicking a .deb file is for the software centre to launch and
offer me the oppertunity to install (almost identical to setup.exe and
installer in windows) but since LibO consists of multiple dependencies
software centre throws a bit of a hissy fit regarding unresolvable
dependencies; it seems to me that a meta package and/or a script that
installs the whole suite would be preferable to directing the user to
open a terminal, navigate to the directory containing the .deb files and
type 'dpkg -i *.deb'.

But then again, I am but a humble Ubuntu user!


On 22/11/10 17:58, Rene Engelhard wrote:
> If we follow your thinking, there would be NO dependencies at all allowed and every
> app needs to include every possible piece of software it needs - be it (security-)buggsy,
> grossly oudated, unstable or whatever) just to please users.
>
> [ Disclaimer: The packages which get out of the installer and are in that .tar.gz DO suck.
> I don't deny that. I wholeheartly agree with you that THEY are user-unfriendly. dpkg is not. ]
I have no problem with dpkg at all, and I will likely use it to install
LibO whenever I get around to it. But most end users are not as
inquisitive as I when presented with what, to the uninitiated, looks
like dozens of separate installers and will either try to install each
package one by one (and be thwarted by errors) or give up. Now we can
either accept that reality and provide a simpler means of installing
LibO (a repository, a meta-package, an install script, etc...) or we can
edit the ReadMe to reflect the dpkg method for installation (and hope
the average end user will look to the ReadMe) or we can do both. I
favour the latter myself.


-- 
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"

        -- Dr. Samuel Johnson (April 7th, 1775)


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