Binary incompatibility of Linux distributions

[anthony baldwin]

Liam Proven wrote:
> 2009/5/15 anthony baldwin <photodharma at gmail.com>:
> 
>> One thing I can't figure out is why the home page for each app isn't
>> always listed in the synaptic descriptions, so one could just click on
>> it and see the apps home page to learn more about the app.
>> That would, IMHO, be a really good idea.
>>
>> For some apps a home page is listed, but not a link, and for the vast
>> majority of apps, no home page is listed.
>> I find myself googling stuff...
>>
>> /tony
>> --
>>
>> http://www.photodharma.com
>> art & photos | tony baldwin
>>
>> http://www.uuchaliceart.com
>> Unitarian Universalist art.
> 
> Lots of apps don't /have/ a homepage. A basic Linux distro consists of
> tens of thousands of binaries. Not every one has its own distinct web
> presence. Is there much point in a homepage for the ls command? It's a
> program in its own right.


Clearly, I don't expect to see a website for glibc, ls, date, 
cdrdao...blah blah blah.
But for "major" desktop appliances, like amarok, firefox, etc., which DO 
have webpages, I would expect a link.
That would even go for less known/used apps, too, like medit, irssi, 
mutt, moc...whatever, that do have homepages...
Even if it's a freshmeat, wiki.tcl.tk, or SF page, etc...


> 
> Secondly, home pages can change and come and go. Software authors
> might not want them linked to their home internet account, for various
> reasons, not least of which is spam-prevention. If they don't have or
> don't want to use free web space, they might not be in a position to
> pay for a site to be hosted elsewhere.
> 

Like I said..."where available", I would like to see a link.
It just makes sense to link to where one might investigate the program, 
read documentation, etc., online, before installing, if/when such option 
is available.

/tony

-- 

http://www.photodharma.com
art & photos | tony baldwin

http://www.uuchaliceart.com
Unitarian Universalist art.