On 08/11 02:40 , Matt Hallacy wrote: > I maintain our RPM repository and packages at work. It's trivial to > create, build, rebuild for different architectures, upload and repo-ize > them compared to when I've had to dig into our Debian repository to > update a package when the guy who maintains that was not available. I spent a lot of time building RPMs /ab initio/. Since we switched to being a Debian shop, I have hardly had to build a package at all (a fine argument in favor of Debian); but I didn't find it terribly difficult to learn to make .debs. They do follow a somewhat less discoverable method of construction, I'll admit; but I don't think it's actually any harder (and in fact may be a lot easier to do correctly, since they give you so many tools for the operation). > A DEB is a glorified tarball (ARchive actually) that provides you with > the files, and some install/uninstall/configure scripts > > An RPM is a glorified tarball that provides you with the same scripts, > and a .spec file that allows you to rebuild an exact copy (and > derivations) of the original package. They're both means to the same end. One of the fundamental differences of philosophy tho, is that RPMs are supposed to be non-interactive, whereas .debs are supposed to be interactive (unless you configure it otherwise). This means that .debs warn you when something is about to break, and give you a chance to fix up your configuration right there. This makes the admin much less likely to miss something and earn the ire of users for whom that thing 'broke'. > the RPM build process > is *much* more easily automated and I see a great deal more > Fedora/CentOS mirrors (and third party repositories) than Debian. I think this is a matter of perception; and I don't think it's terribly constructive to argue over. I just remember Debian having a 'build farm' long before other distros, so they could provide automated quality control of package builds. Yes, bugs do slip in. This happens with all distros and even with a statistical analysis of bug frequency we could argue for quite a while over which distro is better. Take your pick of distros; and I'll take mine. I'll freely admit I have my biases. (For instance, I don't like names that sound like gastrointestinal movements). I'll tell you why I think my choice is best; but I won't compel you to change. -- Carl Soderstrom Systems Administrator Real-Time Enterprises www.real-time.com