[indiana-discuss] Distro proliferation and causes of incompatibility (Was: Name of Distro?)

[Eric Boutilier]

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007, Ian Murdock wrote:
> Eric Boutilier wrote:
>> On Thu, 21 Jun 2007, Ian Murdock wrote:
>>> Eric Boutilier wrote:
>>>> I totally agree as I think everyone does. that is indeed a problem in the
>>>> Linux world, but it's intrinsically less of a concern here (way, *way*
>>>> less, IMO).
>>>> 
>>>> In short, in OpenSolaris land, the existing standard base of 
>>>> compatibility
>>>> is a completelely different animal than Linus' is:
>>>> 
>>>> In terms of Linux, the attributes of the base (Linus' kernel project) led
>>>> to all those incompatible distros. By contrast, the intrinsic attributes 
>>>> of
>>>> our existing base and the environment from which it generates (which I
>>>> trust you've noted are radically different/better in this regard) leads 
>>>> to
>>>> far more, though admitedly not absolute, unification and compatibility
>>>> across distros and other projects, IMO.
>>> 
>>> Are Solaris Express and Nexenta compatible today? I.e., can you build
>>> a package on Solaris Express and install it on Nexenta and vice versa
>>> without any concern about whether something might break? -ian
>> 
>> You do realize that's a strawman tactic, right?
>> 
>> But I have no problem engaging you on it anyway, if you want, but first,
>> quid pro quo: please, for once, read what I actually wrote and tell me what
>> you think is wrong in what I said. I might learn something.
>
> You said, "OpenSolaris will not have compatibility problems because of
> its intrinsic attributes."

There's not much I loathe, but when someone puts together a
phrase and then falsely attributes it to me, _that_ is an
action I loathe. Please don't do it again. Here's what you
should have quoted. This is what I said and this is what I
want to convey. Please refer to this, and not an altered
version of it if you want to quote me. I like to think I
choose how I say things very carefully in matters like this.

     "By contrast, the intrinsic attributes of our existing
     base and the environment from which it generates (which I
     trust you've noted are radically different/better in this
     regard) leads to far more, though admitedly not absolute,
     unification and compatibility across distros and other
     projects"

> I pointed out a counterexample. How is that
> a strawman tactic? -ian

Because it cherry picks one-sixth of the elements of the counterexample
set. The other five-sixths are: Solaris Express, BeleniX, MarTUX, SchilliX,
and Solaris 10.

OK, now, shall we continue? Note: keep in mind the sentence
where I wrote "though admittedly not absolute"...

Eric


>
> -- 
> Ian Murdock
> 650-331-9324
> http://ianmurdock.com/
>
> "Don't look back--something might be gaining on you." --Satchel Paige
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