Messages in this thread | | | Date | Tue, 6 Apr 1999 23:50:55 +0100 (GMT) | From | Alex Buell <> | Subject | RE: /usr/src/linux/Documentation/Changes |
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On Tue, 6 Apr 1999, Riley Williams wrote:
> As it happens, I don't believe .rpm is inferior to .tar.gz at all, but > as that has no relevance to Alex's stupidity, I'll say no more on that > subject.
Since you called me stupid, I'd hardly think you have anything worthwhile to say, but I'll reiterate my points to get it through your thick skull (without using a blunt weapon)
RPM is a format that makes it difficult for those of us unwilling to download and use the rpm software to get at the packages - especially those that are only available in rpms. For many of us that don't use or are not interested in RPMs, that does lock us out of that segment - and hence, leaves us with the distinct impression that those authors would have us go to all that twaddle to get at the sources.
Tarballs (*.tar.gz files) are the true tried and tested method for distributing _SOURCE_ code. I myself distribute my source code in tarballs, and in nothing else. I leave it up to the distributors (i.e RedHat, Debian) to repackage them for their distributions. I think I shall put in a provision in my sources in future to force people to give an URL pointing to my tarballs for those who wants it.
Another reason for myself wanting the sources is to protect myself from knobheads putting out "modified" binaries that leaves my systems with security problems - see previous articles in this mailing list for the Utils-linux 2.9i trojan saga.
Authors willing to write code had better be prepared to distribute tarballs for those of us not "enlightened" with RPMs.
Now do you understand?!
Cheers, Alex -- "Bullshit. It's a cesspool, and has been for a long time. RMS chucked another turd in our midst and his sheep drop their daks and follow suit." - Richard Gooch.
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