Re: [Evolution] downloads page

[Ángel González <angel 16bits net>]

Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> I'd disagree, a *user* cannot "create their own updated version from
> sources".  A user does not build software; developers do.  If you are
> compiling stuff - you are a developer, albeit possibly a very bad one.


I'm not so sure. The user can be taught to use the ./configure && make
&& sudo make install as a black box, just like running apt-get or yum
install.

If you do not change the code (ie. it's not "their own updated version"
but a compile of the upstream version) I'm not so sure you can be
considered a developer (albeit it's something for power-users ☺).


> > My current main laptop has 2500 programme packages installed. I would
> > think this is fairly norm. For the vast majority (2498 packages to be
> > exact) I am not in the slightest interested to have the most bang up
> > to date version. For the two remaining ones - I am a contributing
> > developer, so I compile them from source.
>
> .... so you are a developer.  The constant swapping of contexts between
> user and developer is in part what makes this thread senseless.  It is
> moving the mileposts while measuring.

> If you build software you are a developer;  do not confuse yourself with
> a user [who has neither the interest nor skills to do such a thing].

The interest will mostly depend on how much they want the new
features/fixes (eg. the webkit composer)
Although they often won't have the needed skills (maybe that can be
fixed by lowering the bar?)


> For a non-trivial application such as Evolution a non-trivial skill set
> is required to build.

That's true. And helpers like jhbuild can make it even harder.