Re: Simplifying package installation.

[George Farris <george gmsys com>]

Well I'm imagining something like so:

The system supports two installation methods, RPM and APM 
(Application Package Manager).  Ok hang on bear with me:-)

It works like so.  RPM is used for the install of the basic system, 
utilities, and software the way it is now including GNOME.

Applications on the other hand could be installed with APM.  The 
installation would ask if the application is public or not and 
could be installed either in for example 
"/home/xxx/Apps" or "/opt/Apps"

Now if the users installs just for themselves obviously they are 
the only ones to use the software.  If however they choose to 
install the software for all to use, APM would install the 
application to a public directory and store the installing user in 
it's database.  Because APM knows who installed the software only 
root and the installing user can uninstall the software.

The packages are similar to the way Miguel described in the first 
place.  All related icons and application specific libraries are 
stored in the applications directory.  Files are not spread out all 
over the filesystem.  Keep in mind these are applications NOT 
system binaries etc.  APM would be very similar to install-shield 
and work fairly simply all it would need to do is unpack the 
archive and register the program with the GNOME menu etc.

Remember these are applications, they don't have dependencies.  The 
WordPerfect, Applix and StarOffice are similar.  They don't depend 
on anything else being installed.

Yes there will be at least one setuid call to unarchive the files 
and register the program.  It should be doable.

-- 
George Farris - VE7FRG
George@gmsys.com