[Rpm-maint] Re: [lsb-discuss] [packaging] RFC: Berlin Packaging API

[Robert Schweikert]

Dan Kegel wrote:
> <robert.schweikert at mathworks.com> wrote:
>   
>>  ISVs MUST have the option to let their customers
>>  install an application without root access.
>>
>>  Being able to tell the underlying system what is being installed and
>>  where it is being installed is a convenience for the user and/or the
>>  system administrator.
>>     
>
> Apps that are installed without root access should not
> be announced to the package manager.
Why not?

Lets say I am a user and want to install application X on my system and 
I do not have root access. I use the installer the app provides, the app 
installs and all is well. At some point later I want to install 
application Y, which happens to expect X to be present. As a user I 
don't want to do the leg work of telling Y that X is really there and 
where it is, I just expect the installer of Y to do the leg work for me 
and figure this out.

As the provider of Y there is an obvious solution, ask the system if X 
is installed and where it is. Then I can do the legwork for my user and 
provide a reasonably pleasant install experience. Having the package 
manager as that interface appears to make sense to me.

Robert
>   I must not be
> understanding what you're saying.
> - Dan
>   

-- 
Robert Schweikert                       MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU
(robert.schweikert at mathworks.com)                 LINUX
The MathWorks Inc.
Phone : 508-647-2042