Re: [TCLUG:498] ssh 1.25

["JoshB [JellyD]" <joshb@techie.com>]

Sometime around the 3rd of July in 1998, the wannabe 3|173 h4ck3r Joseph A. Heil sed:

> > #1: the reason unix apps are distributed as source is to make cross-platform
> >     setup easy.  one file to distribute.
> 
>   True.  So.

Distributing them as source allows them to be used on all flavors of Linux
(not just RedHat), the *BSDs, and even possibly other Unices, assuming the
author added support for them. Distributing it as source allows the author
to write the program, slap it in a tarball, and give it out, not worry
about being package-friendly for a single flavor of Linux.

I enjoy tarballs in that I can put them all in my ftp archive, and use
them on all flavors of Linux that I might have running on my LAN at home,
be it RedHat, Debian, Slackware, or FireMyst.

>   Bleh.  A waste of time, unless your are the author, are making custom
>   changes to the source code for your use, or just want to learn how to
>   compile a program.  


I dunno, but I kinda feel cheated if I don't get source code with a
program :P Since most Linux software is GPL, I want the source so I can
modify it myself, use it as learning material, etc. Pre-compiled binaries
.. well, I dislike them. Given a choice, I'll take source any time.

And don't give me a 'That's what I just said!' because I -know- that's
what you just said. It's just that a lot of Linux users feel the way I do.

--
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| Josh Becker                   - aka -                     JellyD |
| email: joshb@techie.com                       IRC: EFnet, DALnet |
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