Re: RPM (Was Re: Deity project schedule problems)
On 24 Sep 1997, Manoj Srivastava wrote:
> >>"Enrique" == Enrique Zanardi <ezanardi@noah.dfis.ull.es> writes:
>
> Enrique> That's the point. We use interactive scripts to configure the
> Enrique> packages as soon as possible. RH uses non-interactive
> Enrique> scripts, installs every package in a default (perhaps
> Enrique> unusable) state and the sysadmin has to configure them after
> Enrique> finishing the installation.
>
> Enrique> Their method allows unattended intallations/upgrades, but the
> Enrique> services may be down until the whole intallation/upgrade is
> Enrique> finished and you reconfigure them to suit your needs. Our
> Enrique> method doesn't allow unattended installations/ upgrades, but
> Enrique> the services are down only a few seconds. Right?
>
> Well, there is an additional point here, that is, the scripts
> also provide hand holding and are easier to use (I am thinking
> sendmailconfig).
>
> sendmailconfig asks a bunch of questions which are intelligible
> to the novice; and then edits the m4 file as needed, then creates
> sendmail.cf, runs aliases, etc. I won't even consider manually
> editing sendmail.cf again. (or having novices faced with hacking up a
> sendmail.mc, even).
>
> And there are other issues; locking fies, restarting daemons,
> etc. The maintainer scripts make configuring a UNIX box look easy.
>
> I used to manage several dozen university UNIX machines for
> the univ of mass. Configuring the machines was time consuming, and
> there were more possibilities of errors doing things on the fly.
>
> Are trying to make Debian for wizards only?
>
> The alternative is to provide the helpful scripts and have the
> maintainer sit and configure the machine, package by package, hoping
> the order is right, and hoping that nothing is forgotten, while the
> machine is crashing around their ankles. Faugh. And no time is saved,
> anyway, if thos scripts have to be run by hand (on a potentially
> broken system, to boot).
Again that's another good point why our system is better than RedHat's.
> Enrique> So there's no good in telling half the story ("See? RH
> Enrique> scripts are not interactive") if one doesn't think about the
> Enrique> pros and cons.
>
> Precisely. I think you dismiss what the maintainer scripts do
> too easily.
Hey, not me! :-) I just said that we *can* have non-interactive scripts
_if_we_want_'em_. But we (Me too! ;-)) don't want them, do we?
We have a better method. It can be enhanced, but it is really better
than the non-interactive thingie.
> Manoj
> ObFUD: I have been on an Ultrix Box with the mount failed, and
> no editor working; and having to fix rc.local using cat and
> grep. Because it installed the library kit in a broken state. Ultrix
> too asked all questions up front.
>
> ps. Pretty good FUD, eh?
Yep, sure.
--
Enrique Zanardi ezanardi@noah.dfis.ull.es
Dpto. Fisica Fundamental y Experimental
Univ. de La Laguna
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