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> The name clearly implies what it does: it manages packages; this task should be left to a specialized software Yes, but the modifications that are possible a
by sebazzz 3y ago
> The name clearly implies what it does: it manages packages; this task should be left to a specialized software
Yes, but the modifications that are possible are limited by what the API of the package manager provides. Like Windows Installer does. If that doesn't work you create custom install uninstall logic, which has the potential to be less robust/reliable than what the package manager provides.
- Spivak 3y agoI mean all Linux package managers allow running arbitrary code on install/uninstall and it seems to work well enough.
- sebazzz 3y agoIt has also failed enough times for me, but luckily it often works like "on error resume next" do the package manager doesn't get stuck in a bad state. Regardless, installation on Linux is often just dropping some files somewhere and perhaps a modprobe. In Windows you have so many things you can do: filesystem, registry, COM registration, GAC, file associations, etc.
- Spivak 3y agoIt's not really that dissimilar. People like to act that Windows is so complicated and convoluted when in time the Linux desktop has invented all the same concepts. registry -> dconf com registration -> dbus objects gac -> shared libs file associations -> dconf settings windows scheduler entries -> systemd user session
- sebazzz 3y agoRight, but most of these entries are still (1) only files or (2) are almost never touched by most packages. And the GAC isn't really comparable, perhaps WinSxS is comparable, but the GAC requires a specific API and isn't a matter of just dropping a file in /usr/lib.
- catiopatio 3y agoIt only works because packages are distributed via a carefully curated, centrally-managed repository with socially-enforced norms.