On Wed, 6 Aug 2003 16:26:06 -0500 (CDT)
Adam Heath <doogie@debian.org> wrote:
> Have you ever heard of alternatives? If 2 packages are installed, both
> providing the same alternative, it's up to you to decide which is used.
Yes, I have. I've used it quite a bit.
> I'm not saying that /usr/bin/gcc is managed by alternatives, or should be.
> I'm just saying the use case is the same.
No, it is not.
> If you want gcc-2.95, instead of the default gcc(whatever it is), then call
> gcc-2.95 directly.
The difference is, as I pointed out to someone else privately, that if I
install, say, nvi it can be called as vi using /etc/alternatives. It does
not, however, depend on a vi package which contains a symlink which, to be
fulfilled, depends on *another* vi package (vim, elvis, elvis-tiny) to be
satisfied.
When I install anything which is managed by /etc/alternatives other,
potentially incompatible, versions of similar or the same software is not
installed. No, I get what I asked for and ONLY what I asked for.
--
Steve C. Lamb | I'm your priest, I'm your shrink, I'm your
PGP Key: 8B6E99C5 | main connection to the switchboard of souls.
| -- Lenny Nero - Strange Days
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