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That's because the distribution is being controlled by central entities, e.g. distros, app stores, etc. People mostly gave up trying to distribute release binar
by jart 5y ago
That's because the distribution is being controlled by central entities, e.g. distros, app stores, etc. People mostly gave up trying to distribute release binaries on their own. Independent distribution now happens primarily by sharing the source. So the whole not working aspect is still very much alive for source builds, which rarely work; at least, not unless you run them inside a Docker container that's exactly the same as whatever the developer uses. Particularly if the software was written recently, and isn't a decades old C program or simple Python script without dependencies.
- jrumbut 5y agoThat's very true, and those central distribution channels are a mixed blessing. The Docker containers are beneficial though! At least now I have an example of a system where the software works to dissect and if my use case is a one-off I can run it in the Docker container then move on with my life.
- jart 5y agoIt is beneficial, but you have to trade away a lot of control of your system and distribution in order to get those benefits. I personally have more hope for alternatives like Actually Portable Executable, since it hybridizes the zip format with conventional static executables that run on multiple platforms, so you get the best of the both worlds: a fast conventional executable that functions as a container.