Re: LYNX-DEV Binary distribution: an evaluation.

[Duncan Hill]

On Thu, 5 Dec 1996, Subir Grewal wrote:

> :I think a tar package for each distribution is reasonable.  It should
> :include the Makefile, the compiled binary, and the various documents
> :and configuration files.  After downloading, the user runs "make
> :install", modifying the Makefile if necessary.

Hmm..I would think it would help to have the files in several formats.
You never know what people will have at the other end.  Therefore, why
don't we use the 3 "standard" methods -> .tar.gz (.tgz?) ; .tar.Z ; .zip

> I've placed all the docs in a file called lynx2-6.docs.zip.  It basically

Nice idea..therefore, we can all build packages without the docs, and they
can pull the docs you have?

> we strongly recommend custom builds for system-wide installations.  I

Good point :>  Unless you know that the binary is complete, but even
then...one suggestion...for each binary package, I think that the author
should append a .txt file that details what it was built with (slang ver
x.y.z), what OS version etc, and possibly the libraries that are linked
in?

> think archiving the Makefile with the binary may be a good idea as would
> userdefs.h.  I was going by how things were done at Kansas and following
> that rule.  I've never changed userdefs.h anyway, and I generally don't

Hmm..yeah..I agree..right, time to modify my install script :>  I hacked
together a little install script (bash) that check (on Linux) in the
"default" patchs for certain files, backs them up if they exist, then
installs the new stuff.  If it can't find the default paths, it installs
in $HOME/lynx2-6, so as to nut clutter the users directory.  If anybody
wants to see it, I'll drop it by as an e-mail attachment.

> I mostly thought of the binary distribution as something that a user would
> go for.  Someone who was on an ISP unwilling to upgrade (as mine is) and
> who really didn't want to go through the trouble of compiling the
> executable.

[snip]

> This directory contains lynx binaries collected by Subir Grewal
> <address@hidden>.  Since I haven't compiled most of these binaries
> myself, I cannot vouch for their stability.  I have made an attempt to
> only accept binaries from people I know and trust, though.  If you have
> any problems with the lynx binaries here, please do send me mail.

[snip]

Looks nice..I like the layout below..

> File name                            Contributor
> =========                            ===========
> lynx2-6.mipsel.dec.ultrix.exe.zip    Subir Grewal <address@hidden>

Hmm..got a little long :>

Duncan Hill
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