Re: gEDA-user: Help request

[sdb@xxxxxxxxxx (Stuart Brorson)]

> 
> On Thursday 15 June 2006 07:17, Stuart Brorson wrote:
> > 1. =A0I don't recommend using Ubuntu to build software. =A0Ubuntu
> > doesn't come with the usual build tools (gcc, header files
> > and all that) installed. =A0That's why you had all the
> > dependecies to deal with.
> >
> > Ubuntu is good for e-mail and text editing, but not at all
> > good for the task you are attempting. =A0Try Fedora Core or
> > SuSE instead. =A0They are reasonably user friendly, and are
> > *complete* distributions.
> 
> After reading this too many times I decided to try it.
> 
> I have an old computer, 850 mHz, with a big disk.  I partitioned=20
> it into 5 gig pieces and tried a few of those distributions.  I=20
> did a quick install, with the minimum extra packages that would=20
> get a graphic interface.  Mostly I took the defaults, but used=20
> manual partitioning to allocate that 5 gig partition so I could=20
> have them all.
> 
> Summary:  those comments about Ubuntu are completely false. =20
> Ubuntu is as complete as any, and compares favorably with the=20
> others. =20

[ . . . . .]

> Basic install did=20
> not include development tools.  They can be easily installed=20
> using apt-get or synaptic.

Heh.   You've just volunteered to provide support for the newbies who
try the gEDA install CD and can't make it run because Ubuntu doesn't
come with developement tools on the CD.  I'll be forwarding their
e-mails to you from now on.  Thanks for the help!  :-) 

Seriously, my point is that supporting newbies trying to build a
fairly complicated applications suite is a PITA.  Ubuntu doesn't
include the devel tools required for the build.  Telling the newbies
to just grab this or that package using apt-get or yum is already more
of an impediment than they want.  FC and SuSE come with all required
software already on the disks (although you do need to read the gEDA
FAQ to find out that some of the required packages aren't installed by
default).  Therefore, from a customer-support standpoint, Ubuntu loses
to FC and SuSE when it comes to installing gEDA, period.

I'd suggst that the Ubuntu enthusiasts add a little HOWTO to the gEDA
FAQ describing how to set up Ubuntu so the gEDA installer works on
it.  Alternately, they can describe how to install everything
(including gEDA/gaf, PCB, and all that) using .deb packages.  The
relevant wiki page for this material is here:

http://geda.seul.org/wiki/geda:installation

Otherwise, this thread is just a sophomoric "my distro is better than
your distro" flame fest, and it's not making a useful contribution to
gEDA.

Stuart

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