[ale] why is it difficult?

[Stephen Pellicer]

On Sat, Oct 28, 2000 at 09:20:44PM -0400, Bryan Owens wrote:
> I would like to say three things  One, yeses some of these programs could 
> probably be bundled a bit better but I don't find it nearly as tedious as
> you'd have it 
> sound (I run into the problem you described as often on Windows as I do on
> my Linux box).  
> Two, if you really want a system to dot all the I's and cross all your T's
> why don't you
> just use Windows or Mac?  Both have proven the pitfalls with that attitude.
> Third off
> this isn't like every app and library project keep tabs on each other.  This
> is why distributions
> like RedHat update as often as they do, to try and give you a general kind
> of update.
> If you insist on having the bleeding edge stuff deal with the problems that
> entails.  If a distribution
> has messed something up then let them know.

Here, here. Excellent summary of the tradeoffs involved with any
platform. No platform has solved the problem of stability v.
complexity. If one insists on being on the bleeding edge, you
sacrifice some stability. Especially important is the point that these
same problems occur in other operating systems.

There's a difference between problems with a base distribution and the
problems with bleeding edge pieces interacting with a base
distribution. If you don't want to deal with these problems stick with
6.2 or a base 7.0. If you want all the new features, grab 2.4.0-test*
and other bleeding edge pieces.

I installed the freebie distributed RedHat 7.0 and the only problems
I've had are in relation to my 2.4.0-test kernel and my LDAP integration.
The former is labeled with warnings on it being a development kernel and
the latter is because the freebie RedHat 7.0 doesn't include some
packages from the full distributions.  I deal with the 2.4.0 issues until
it's stable and I downloaded the additional packages I needed. There was
one problem with the new glibc and xmms interaction but that was updated
in the errata (easily resolved by using the RedHat Network Updater).

One last point, if you still are not satisfied with what you are
experiencing, BUY SUPPORT! The Open Source model does not remove the
complexity from software. What it does do is make the support of
software _optional_. The money you normally spend of software usually
goes into a black hole. With Open Source software, that same money can
be spent on quality support with a distribution company or a third
party.

I'm tired hearing of people complain about software and are either:
a) not willing to pay for support
b) not willing to write better software
c) not willing to deal with the problems of doing everything on their
own

Whenever you deal with any software (binary only or open source) you
deal with the above points. Nothing in our global culture works in the
ways that people's complaints propose. You can't expect everything to
be tailored to your situation for free. Every time you stray from a
hardware compatibility list or supported platform list you take on the
responsibility of compatibility to save that 10 bucks on a graphics
card. Every time you choose to run software that is either unique to
your installation or a labeled development piece you take on the
responsibility of compatibility. I'd like to see problems that people
are running into that are not documented, fixed by a paid call to
technical support, or on your own.

End Rant,
Stephen
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