[nylug-talk] Benefits/drawbacks of building Linux as a package [was: Looking for recommendations on Linux Distro]

[Chris Knadle]

On Saturday 15 March 2008, Ruben Safir wrote:
> Installing a kernel with a package manager is suicidal anyway.
>
> Ruben

   Hmm...  Well if that's so I'd appreciate knowing why you feel that way.  
[I'm not being sarcastic, I'm seriously asking.]

   The main things I personally like about installing the kernel as a package:
     1.  Ability to compile on one system + install on another
         [Doesn't require installing dev stuff on a server, for instance]
     2.  Package manager warns if library versions don't match, like
         module-init-tools
     3.  The pacakage install script adds or removes the kernel to the boot
         menu automatically
     4.  The package contains md5sums for the files, so if one of the files
         has been changed there's a chance of finding out
     5.  It saves me work

   Matching arguments against bothering to make a package:
     1.  You could probably copy over a .tar to do the same thing
     2.  If you know what you're doing this shouldn't matter
     3.  Run 'update-grub' to do the same thing
     4.  You can't rely on md5sums if they're local anyway
     5.  Don't be lazy

   Thoughts?

   -- Chris

-- 

Chris Knadle
Chris.Knadle at coredump.us