Re: [Visualpython-users] Linux users of VPython, unite!

[heafnerj <hea...@vn...>]

On Wed, 11 Apr 2001, Bruce Sherwood wrote:

> I'd like to propose a small Linux VPython community project. I find it 
> frustrating that what look to me like the same Linux questions and problems 
> keep recurring. Ari Heitner has been trying to provide some compiled 
> packages, but it's clear that these often are not usable, depending on the 
> Linux flavor, so there should be a high-quality document explaining how to 
> do a source compile and install.
> 
Excellent idea. From what I read on the VPython website, the problem was
with a library supplied with Red Hat Linux 6.2. From version 6.2 to 7, the
problem was apparently fixed with an updated library.

Personally, I much prefer precompiled rpm's rather than compiling my own
packages.

> I propose that someone knowledgeable draft and post FULLY detailed, 
> comprehensive instructions for how to compile and install on various common 
> flavors of Linux. Other knowledgeable Linux users would critique and debate 
> the document. When everyone had thrashed out agreement, we would post this 
> prominently on the VPython site. The document needs in particular to state 
> clearly and in detail all the dependencies, and all the places where one 
> has to go to get the various pieces. And if we get that far, maybe we could 
> even get all the pieces together in one place!
> 
In my own experience, the necessary dependencies were on the supplementary
CD-ROM that came with my distribution. Well, all but one anyway. The
various Linux distributions all maintain repositories for bleeding edge
versions of libraries and programs (e.g. Mandrake's "cooker", Red Hat's
"rawhide"). These packages are usually supplied customized for a
particular distribution and are seldom compatible with other
distributions. To a certain extent, this is also true of source rpm's
because the various distributions sometimes store source files in
different places. This may quickly turn into a collection of HOW-TO's for
each of the various major Linux distributions.

> Feel free also to tell me that my proposal makes no sense. Since I'm not a 
> Linux user, I may well have misunderstood everything. But watching from the 
> sidelines it sure sounds like utter chaos that one is sent to lots of 
> different repositories to find obscure files and keep trying to compile and 
> find other dependencies and ask some more questions and update the compiler 
> itself to the latest version and then.....
> 
Well, it may not be as bad as it seems. There are a handful of well known
Linux repositories. One of the most often used is rpmfind.net, but I've
discovered tuxfinder.com is better for my purposes and has always
performed wonderfully for me. Most Linux users know about these, but the
newbies will probably not. I speak from experience since I've only been
using Linux for a year, and I've found these places usually by accident.
:-)

I have all of the pieces needed for installing VPython on my RH7 system,
but have not yet done so. After I get things installed and running, I will
doucment the dependencies and put together a HOW-TO for RH7. I've not yet
learned how to create rpm packages, but I need to learn anyway.

Now, back to doing my taxes. :-)

Joe Heafner

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