Re: X Crash after installing msttcorefonts, cabextract, x-ttcidfont-conf
--- Wolfgang Pfeiffer <pfei@gmx.net> wrote:
>
> The basic problem I have here, is that on Debian I
> have a whole bunch (or
> perhaps better: a wonderful mess) of different font
> config files:
>
> XF86Config-4,
> XftConfig,
> in /etc/fonts/ fonts.conf and local.conf,
> in /etc/X11/fs/ config and xfs.options,
> the config files for defoma,
> my personal font config in .xinitrc
>
> I simply stop here; but I wouldn't be astonished to
> find a dozen more if I
> went on trying to find some.
>
> Does anybody out there know, whether there is a
> single human being among
> the Debian folks who is aware of the fact that a
> font system like the one
> on Debian is not only a bad joke but, if I see this
> correctly, simply
> gaga? That this font system is definitely unusable?
> And I'd bet it's not
> only unusable for non-X-coders but even for the
> X-developers themselves.
>
> My guess is this mess is a Debian-specific one, i.e.
> one that was
> caused by the way the Debian folks organize the
> fonts on Debian, and not
> one which is caused by the X-developers. Am I right?
>
Whoa...wrong guess...don't go blaming debian quite yet
the X font situation. Blame the X development team
for the numerous config files. Its a feature, not a
bug - which is arguable. As far as font handling goes,
blame that on X too.
Debian has attempted a solution to some of these
problems with debian specific programs such as defoma
and ttcidfont packages, but I think they've been a
dismal failure -- too complicated to use, more config
files, inadequate recognition of fonts between
different programs. I think the defoma software
developer him/herself stopped developing the software
and its up for adoption. I personally would like to
put it out of its misery and start again, but I'm not
a debian developer for alot of reasons. I also
wouldn't mind seeing some cross polination between
other distributions when it comes to font handling.
What's healthy for the linux kernel should be healthy
for linux distributions as well. But I haven't
researched the issue because I'm unable (due to debian
policies) to develop debian specific apps.
In the mean time, I stick to installing fonts the old
fashion way, manipulating config files, etc and trying
to find a happy medium where fonts will be recognized
generally in the same way by X, OpenOffice, and gs,
but its certainly a balancing act.
Hopefully your complaints about font handling will be
heeded and taken up by the debian desktop usability
group. In my opinion, this is a major issue that they
should attempt to resolve.
> Situations like that is why I say that Debian-Linux
> does not work for
> people with a girl-friend or a family, or for folks
> who need to get a job
> done on a computer in a reasonable amount of time.
Sorry, but debian has never been know as a user linux
distribution. Its prefered by developers and advanced
users, because it doesn't hold your hand very much.
I could argue with you about why this is a "good
thing" (tm), but there arguments are too numerous and
easily available in other mailing lists.
> Or for folks who simply
> like watching shadows on the wall (John Lennon :) or
> the stars above them.
>
> I'd guess it's a system for folks not knowing what
> to do with their lives
> if they had a working OS on their computer.
>
>
> Is there some hope that this situation will change
> on Debian?
> Or do Debian folks like kissing their screens
> instead of their wifes or
> girl-friends ... ?
>
> I'm talking of Debian-Linux because even on a 2 or 3
> year old
> i386 RedHat 6.2 the font situation, IIRC, by far was
> not that ugly as
> it is here on Debian.
>
> Best Regards,
> Wolfgang
> --
> Profile, Links:
> http://profiles.yahoo.com/wolfgangpfeiffer
>
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