Installing a compiler by default

[James Purser]

On Sun, 2006-06-11 at 04:06 +0200, Stephan Hermann wrote:
> On Sunday 11 June 2006 00:07, Carlos Ribeiro wrote:
> > On 6/8/06, Matt Zimmerman <mdz at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> > > I would like to propose that, beginning in Edgy, Ubuntu desktop
> > > systems (both live and installed) should, by default, include the
> > > set of packages necessary to compile simple C programs and Linux
> > > kernel modules.
> >
> > Add VMWare (which in fact need to install a couple Linux Kernel
> > modules) to the list of useful applications which depend on a
> > compiler + kernel headers being installed.
> 
> The right application would be "qemu", without compiling any kernel 
> modules etc. 

Umm, qemu suffers a pretty big performance hit if you don't use the
kernel module that is on offer.

Also why would qemu be the "right" application to use? Does it have the
same featureset as VMWares offerings? Does it fulfil the needs of the
parent poster to the same level. You may as well have said that Bochs
would have been the "right" application to use.

I'll throw in my 2 cents on the build-essentials debate. I believe it
should be installed by default for several reasons. Firstly, experienced
linux users expect a desktop OS to at least come with the basic tools
for building apps, and while apt-get install build-essentials is not a
complicated procedure in itself, it does have a large annoyance factor.
I've heard from at least five different linux users who, when they moved
across to Ubuntu, expressed "annoyance" at not being able to at least
have the option to install the basics at install time.

Secondly many people use their desktops as testbeds for new software or
newer versions of existing software than exists in the repositories. Not
giving these people the option to install a basic dev environ at install
just causes that annoyance factor I mentioned before.

Thirdly, as many other people have mentioned, there is hardware out
there that requires specific modules to be built before they will
operate.

Seeing as the build-essentials is included on the CD's anyway I guess
the best middle ground option would be to include an option to install
it during the install process. Those who want it select it and those who
don't or don't know what it is can go on their merry way.
-- 
James Purser
Producer/Presenter - Linux Australia Update
http://james.k-sit.com - My Blog
http://k-sit.com - My IT Consultancy
http://localfoss.org - LA Update Podcast, LUG Roundup and more
Skype: purserj1977
SIP: 736855 at fwd.pulver.com
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 191 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
Url : https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/attachments/20060611/0fc8e1d0/attachment.pgp