[SWLUG] RE: Package management

[Emyr42 .]

Up to now, this discussion seems to have only been looking at the 
dependencies side of things; When was the last time you installed something 
in windows? It's never a one-click process, but you get far more control 
than with the linux alternatives.

With most MSI-based installers, the install process goes like this:

1. Intro screen
"This is what this installer does"

2. Choose Directory
Pointless on linux, but I have my win-apps partition in categories, like the 
linux "startmenu"

3. Choose options
This is what I miss the most. I know with RPM etc there's a package for each 
option, like with oo.o you have a package for the speller and the other 
optional tools, but shouldn't it be One software package->One installer?

4. Choose start-menu folder
Most windows installers put all sort of cack in their folder, so I usually 
weed out my start-menu to leave everything categorised, linux-style. This is 
something I don't miss.

5. Transfer files

6. Create registry entries

7. End of process
less MSI-installers want you to restart nowadays, which is better.


To conclude:
What I want added to Linux installers:
Decent Intro screen
Options instead of multiple packages.

I know having individual packages reduces download size (if you know what 
each package is for) but imagine if microsoft had made Office for -ux. Would 
there have been an optional package for the paperclip(aaaaargh!) or would it 
have been bundled in with the accessories or help package?