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Why should I have to install the jdk for a build tool when I’m not using Java myself?
by numbsafari 9y ago
Why should I have to install the jdk for a build tool when I’m not using Java myself?
- wocram 9y agoAre you opposed to java, or to installing being more than one step?
- arbie 9y agoPerhaps OpenJDK can be installed locally by Please when not detected in $PATH?
- numbsafari 9y agoI’m opposed to tools bringing along the equivalent of an entire operating system, with a massive attack surface, versioning issues, separate package management, and everything else along for the ride. A self-contained binary has everything it needs to function and is typically much smaller. If I’m not using Java for my work, then I don’t want to be encumbered with having to think about it, or stay up to speed with releases and everything else. I like to see projects with as few dependencies as possible, even when statically linked. Bringing in the JDK when it’s not needed is tiresome.
- jimktrains2 9y agoWhy should I have to install dependencies when I don't directly use them!
- abiox 9y agoi don't notice people complaining about needing ruby, python, perl or other things installed for a given tool that depends on them nearly as much as java. interesting.
- y4mi 9y agopython is generally preinstalled on all distributions i know of, because its needed for some utility applications. ruby on the other hand gets quite a bit of flack as well, because most distributions are so far behind the official ones. that's probably why an embedded ruby binary has become a thing.
- zaarn 9y agoI actually do (internally) complain when some tool uses python/perl/ruby. It's usually painful to install and maintain compared to most C or Go in this case. Especially virtualenvs are an axe I like to grind.