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> It is the hybrid open source library / closed source app that causes problems like this. There can exist good reasons to deliver the application as binary ev
by wolfgke 7y ago
> It is the hybrid open source library / closed source app that causes problems like this.
There can exist good reasons to deliver the application as binary even though it is open-source.
The difference rather is: Microsoft cares about binary compatibility while the developers of userland libraries on GNU/Linux do not.
- JetSpiegel 7y agoMost distros are distributed as binaries. But since the source is available and the licenses allow distribution, it's much easier to just recompile the thing. Binary compatibility is not valued if you can just recompile the source. Why waste brain cells maintaining compatibilty when the compiler can bake you a new compatible binary?
- badsectoracula 7y agoBecause your users might be actually using more software than what you deem worthy to put in your distribution.
- JetSpiegel 7y agoMost, if not all, distros have no vendor-level restrictions on repository choice, you can make your own.
- thedudemabry 7y agoAgreed. As a former MS-focused engineer in a previous life, I was constantly surprised by how many executables just continued to work 20 years after authorship. It's a different set of tradeoffs than other OSs have made, but a really remarkable one.
- magpi3 7y agoGog.com makes their living specifically by updating games that no longer work on modern versions of Windows.