Re: CCL:G:Model Builders for LINUX
- From: Konrad Hinsen <hinsen-0at0-ibs.ibs.fr>
- Subject: Re: CCL:G:Model Builders for LINUX
- Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 13:06:56 +0100
> they say that the reason they don't want to support Linux is becuase they
would
> have to put together their own distribution of Linux in order to provide
any
> type of support. Further, they conveyed the general attitude that Linux
> development moves too quickly for them to take a chance and port to Linux
(I
> volunteered to type 'xmkmf' for them).
Actually, their (second) argument does point to a problem with
Linux. If you want to provide support for a program running under
a certain system, you must have a machine running it and support people
knowing it reasonably well. Linux is not really a well-defined
system; strictly speaking, "Linux" is just the kernel. There are
endless combinations of system libraries, utility programs, file system
layouts etc. out there, all of which under the generic name "Linux".
A possible solution would be to offer support only for a well-defined
distribution (or a few of them) without any modifications. Whether
this works in practice is of course an open question - I am not aware
of anyone using such an approach.
--
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Konrad Hinsen | E-Mail: hinsen-0at0-ibs.ibs.fr
Laboratoire de Dynamique Moleculaire | Tel.: +33-4.76.88.99.28
Institut de Biologie Structurale | Fax: +33-4.76.88.54.94
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