Re: Comparing PackageFS and GNU PM

[Luca Ferroni]

Il Sat, 25 Sep 2004 12:11:16 +0200,  "Alfred M. Szmidt" <address@hidden> ha 
scritto:

>    If an administrator make a package directory into INSTALL/,
> 
> Hmm, so one can _only_ install avaiable packages, and one does this by
> creating a directory in INSTALL/?
> 

Yes, also ordinary package managers can install only available packages.

> This seems like a major difference, with our scheme you can install
> programs that haven't been packaged and are not avaiable by installing
> the program in a different root, and making a symlink from that root
> to /package.

This is a good enhancement. 
I didn't thought about supporting unpackaged software.

> Drag the directory to /package, drop it, get a small menu asking them
> to make a symlink.  Or just copy the whole directory to /package.  Or
> you could make something fancy in Gnome's file manager that will show
> you a "Install me" button when you look at a package; with some info
> under the button with a description.

Ok. It is simple, but you have to modify file manager itself or use specific 
GUI.
It is not a big problem though.

>    I was wondering if it was necessary to translate /packages/*/bin.
> 
> Explain.

Your next answer cleans each doubt.
 
>    No doubt it is a very interesting idea, but how does it improve
>    GNU?
> 
> It allows easier package maintaiance, installation of unpackaged
> programs, easier integration with other programs (just use normal
> filesystem calls from libc).  It is more transparent than using a
> "package manager program"; making it more integrated with the rest of
> the system.  And more...
> 

I understand these motivations. I finally think it is
great, interesting and .... necessary.

I will install and study HURD after I take my laurea degree.
Bye

-- 
Luca Ferroni
www.cs.unibo.it/~fferroni/