Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sat 3rd May 2008 05:47 UTC, submitted by ZacharyM

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RE: Packages, packages...
by sbergman27 on Sun 4th May 2008 05:04
in reply to "Packages, packages..."
I see several users have left Slackware for Debian or Ubuntu because of the "massive repos".
I don't know of any individual who uses all 25000+ packages in the Debian/Ubuntu repositories. Therefore, the only advantage is an easier method of resolving dependencies.
I don't know of any individual who uses all 25000+ packages in the Debian/Ubuntu repositories. Therefore, the only advantage is an easier method of resolving dependencies.
You are not making any sense. What matters not what percentage of the packages one uses, but how many are *not* available in the standard repos, and thus require a lot of manual attention to obtain and maintain. Between the main repo, Universe, and Multiverse, pretty much anything that is available anywhere is available there. I use CentOS, Fedora, and Ubuntu regularly. And there is really no comparison regarding completeness of the repos. (I'm sure Debian package availability is at least as good.) I'm not sure what the availability status of Slack is these days, since I left it in 1997 due to its... lack of proper package management. But I have seen nothing to indicate that the situation has changed much.
RE[2]: Packages, packages...
by gavin.mccord on Sun 4th May 2008 12:52
in reply to "RE: Packages, packages..."
RE[2]: Packages, packages...
by garymax on Sun 4th May 2008 15:30
in reply to "RE: Packages, packages..."
You are not making any sense.
Nice try at polemics but I made perfect sense. My point was and is the fact that unless you are installing massive amounts of apps, resolving dependencies is not that big of a deal.
When you have source code ANY application is available.
I left it in 1997 due to its... lack of proper package management. But I have seen nothing to indicate that the situation has changed much.
This further proves my point. You're looking for something easy. It's not a matter of whether apps are available or not. It's whether you can get them onto your system in a perceived "easy" fashion.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing but it underscores the crux of the issue.
Also, it appears your idea of a "proper" package manager is one that resolves dependencies or, in other words, is easy...
I still say the cleanliness of the system and the relative ease with which dependencies are resolved in Slackware are well worth the minimal extra effort to get a great system that performs well with no bloat.
RE[2]: Packages, packages...
by Oliver on Mon 5th May 2008 08:35
in reply to "RE: Packages, packages..."
Member since:
2006-01-23
I see several users have left Slackware for Debian or Ubuntu because of the "massive repos".
I don't know of any individual who uses all 25000+ packages in the Debian/Ubuntu repositories. Therefore, the only advantage is an easier method of resolving dependencies. But to a Slacker, that is no problem because most dependencies are already handled by the system and what few remain are easily built.
The result: a clean, well-manicured system that does not get in your way.
I know people who use Ubuntu/Debian, but, really, unless you constantly install and uninstall applications, dependency handling is not that big of a deal.
Edited 2008-05-04 04:08 UTC