I don't think the dependency issue is the main thing keeping Linux from mainstream, but I heartily agree it's a real issue. I really like Linux (especially since getting Slackware) but chasing dependencies is the single most annoying thing about it. Sometimes after finding and installing a few packages then realizing I've run into a depedency trail that seemingly has no end, I just give up in frustration. What's really bad is when you have to think for a minute to remember what software you were trying to install in the first place........ -Matt Bailey Julian Hall wrote: > > I've been lurking on this mailing list for several months now as a new user > to Linux and to Wine. I agree completely with what Leo is saying. Windows > users in general will all have their favourite software they want to run, be > that a game or a specific application they cannot do without. Linux may > well have a viable alternative, but some people just like to use what they > already know and not waste time learning some new program to do the same > thing. > > So we turn to Wine. I have to say I have had mixed results, largely I admit > due to not spending enough time digging into the root causes and various > other problems I have has with Linux in general. For example the video > editing program I use TMPEG Encoder worked first time in Wine with no > messing about, largely I suspect because the programmers wrote it to be self > contained. The same is true of Hunter. However Paintshop Pro 7 did not > want to play, and to be honest I haven't had time to really look into why. > > Having said that, to address the original point, Windows users will not move > to Linux unless they are presented with a simple alternative to Windows. > They will not "simply compile X Y or Z" for two reasons: > > 1. They will not know how, and regrettably there are those in the Linux > community who assume knowledge and are unwilling to help other than "say > "RTFM". There are also those I am happy to say such as this list who WILL > help and all credit and thanks to those of you who offer solutions to us > poor ignorant Linux newbies :) > > 2. If dependencies are not satisfied TELL THE USER which ones they are, so > they have a fighting chance of resolving the problem. Not all Linux > installs are that kind. Dependencies not being satisfied smacks of "You > need Internet Explorer 5 to install this program", only it is a much worse > situation because at least with this message you are told One Program which > will fix the problem. Far preferable to Linux telling you to find half a > dozen obscure packages and not having the kindness to tell you where to > look. > > Dependencies are the one thing preventing wholesale moves to Linux. I > recently installed a new Nvidia Geforce FX5600 and Nvidia were good enough > to provide ONE program to run and idiot proof instructions (just as well, > they're dealing with ME here ;)). That was painless. However, getting a > reliable software DVD player is a nightmare due to dependencies. > > Unless ex-Windows users are presented with "all in one" installers like the > Nvidia one there will be no wholesale move to Linux. We are used to > "doubleclick Setup.exe" and it does its' stuff. I have been using computers > 20 years, 8 of them in Windows, so I am prepared to do a bit more than the > average user. But that's me, and the average button pushing user will look > at a dependency demand and reinstall Windows. All it needs is for an > installer to include the necessary files *should they be needed*, or even if > the package is on a website, at least include links to the pages for all the > dependencies if they are not in the package. > > Anyway I think I've wandered off topic here, so apologies if I have and I'll > get off my soapbox :) > > Kind regards, > > Julian _______________________________________________ wine-users mailing list wine-users@xxxxxxxxxx http://www.winehq.org/mailman/listinfo/wine-users
