Re: [Plplot-devel] install now puts files in /usr/lib regardless of prefix

[Rafael L. <lab...@ps...>]

* Alan W. Irwin <ir...@be...> [2003-02-18 10:29]:

> Yes it is, but it is also far from perfect so to encourage users to use
> uninstall is just plain wrong unless they don't mind if it screws up.
> 
> First, the automake documentation specifically spreads some doubt about
> uninstall
> 
> "Note that uninstall' is not meant as a replacement for a real packaging
> tool."

Your interpretation of this sentence in the manual is very biased.  The
authors are just stating that "make uninstall" does very simple things,
actually only deletion of files.  It is like "make install", that just
install files.  There could be a sentence in the manual like this:

"Note that install is not meant as a replacement for a real packaging tool."
           ^^^^^^^

Would you then say that "make install" is not trustful?	 
	   
> That doesn't sound like it is a high maintenance priority with the
> autotools developers. Also even if autotools uninstall is completely
> bug-free it is not clear that uninstall will actually work properly if you
> have gone outside the autotools paradigm.

Why are you suggesting that make uninstall is buggy?  Your statements sound
like FUD.

> Sorry, Rafael, but I like the KISS principle so I am going to stick with
> 
> rm -rf
> 
> and a special prefix for each of my handful of different tarball installs.
> Of course if a real packaging tool is used like debs or rpms I am happy to
> go with those since their package uninstalls are heavily tested by many
> users.

At any rate, I never pretended that "make uninstall" would work in any
possible case.  Neither that you should start using it.  I just pointed out
that "make uninstall" take care of removing every file installed through
"make install", including those installed elsewhere than $prefix.  Period.

-- 
Rafael