Re: Making prerequisites easy

["Yo 'Ric Dude" <ericmit ix netcom com>]

Elliot Lee wrote:
> 
> As GNOME is being built, the authors of various programs/libraries often
> realize that they could make use of already existing libraries instead of
> reinventing the wheel. As GNOME is being installed, users often grumble
> about the prerequisities that they must install in order to get GNOME up &
> running. :)
> 
> As a result, authors sometimes shy away from requiring libraries that
> would benefit GNOME as a whole. An example I can give right now is the
> audiofile library (a library that loads various audio file formats), which
> Tom Tromey suggested to use for loading sound effects and other useful
> sound-related functionality.
> 
> Does anyone have ideas for making it easier to get GNOME installed, and
> making the prerequisites look less threatening to new users?

I suspect the major issue for newbies is that to get the *really* 
useful versions of programs requires running the CVS versions of
a lot of stuff.  Running the CVS versions requires *correctly* 
upgrading a lot of tools (autoconf, libtool, etc.) and libraries
beyond what most distributions included the last time around.  
Once the tools included with the major distros are up to speed, 
compiling the libs shouldn't be the chore that it is now.  

A well publicised FAQ, referenced prominently from www.gnome.org, 
explaining how to keep the plethora of .m4 files in sync, what 
the most common errors are and how to fix them, etc. should go a 
long way in getting many users up to speed.  A clear dependency 
chart may be useful, too.  e.g. Library X requires libs Y and Z, 
and optionally lib W.  

Quick! I need help compiling! Take me to the Getting Started FAQ!

Better yet, once the major distros start including Gnome itself
in the distro itself, it then becomes a simple matter to upgrade
via rpm, dpkg, apt-get, or whatever.  

> Thanks,
> -- Elliot
> "In film you will find four basic story lines. Man versus man, man
>  versus nature, nature versus nature, and dog versus vampire."
>     - Steven Spielberg
> 
> (PS. I'm not suggesting that program authors add prerequisites flippantly,
> but even ignoring new libraries that might be nice to use in GNOME, there
> are quite a few existing prerequisites).

-- ebm
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