Joe Smith wrote: > > "Wesley J. Landaker" <wjl@icecavern.net> wrote in message > news:20060618234332.30829.65542.reportbug__43.3442452505872$1150674723$gmane$org@localhost... > >> Package: wnpp >> Severity: wishlist >> Owner: "Wesley J. Landaker" <wjl@localhost> >> >> * Package name : googleearth-package >> Upstream Author : Wesley J. Landaker <wjl@icecavern.net> >> * URL : (native package) >> * License : GPL >> Description : utility for automatically building a Google Earth >> Debian package >> >> Google Earth is a great program now available for GNU/Linux, but sadly >> is both non-free and non-distributable. For those who wish to run it on >> their Debian system, but wish it to be managed by the normal Debian >> packaging system, this program will assist in building a local Debian >> package in a similar fashion to java-package. This package *itself* >> contains absolutely no code from Google and is 100% free. (For the >> curious, this is appropriately destined for contrib.) >> >> > > Is this really needed? Google was very careful in making sure that the > package installs in /usr/local, and does not interfere with the > system. Normally the main reason why a debian package is better than > what upsteam distributed is because using upstreams packages will mess > with stuff it should not touch. > > The reason java-package is needed is that upstream's packages are not > well behaved, and install into /usr, potentially causeing problems if > it decides to edit the files of other packages. > > > Google Earth takes care of its own updates by prompting the user, and > allowing them to download and run the new installer (or at least it > does on windows, and I can't imagine why the linux version would not). > Needing to use a *-package utility prevents automatic updates anyway, > and does not simplify installation much if any. So the only real > advantage would seem to be that it would make Google Earth easier to > uninstall. Well I guess it simplifies pushing updates out to a bunch > of workstations, but in most cases users should just download the the > .bin and run it. > > What's more, google earth can be installed without root privileges and installs into a users home directory, thus the systems administrator doesn't even need to install it, the user can
Attachment:
signature.asc
Description: OpenPGP digital signature