Family has kept me from blogging the last few weeks, but a couple links drew my attention today. The Linux Desktop Distribution of the Future is a blog post by akaimbatman at blogspot. In it he lists (his perceptions of) some of Linux’s problems mastering the desktop. In a total 180 from most posts of this type, he also lists solutions. Now several of his “thoughts” are re-occurring theories that pop-up from know-it-all new-to-Linux types from time-to-time (sorry about this sentence, I have been reading a great deal of Joyce lately.) It does, however, provoke some good thought on selected topics.
This post is a rant of the perceived shortcomings of the RPM package format. The author demonstrates a distinct lack of understanding about RPM and its design decisions. A technically solid (if less then totally coherent) rebuttal can be found here. The whole DKPG/RPM debate is one of the quickest ways to spot a Linux zealot. Technically speaking RPM is superior to DKPG in every perceivable way, yet DKPG defenders will routinely throw arguments like “RPM is a steaming pile of crap” in defense of thier package of choice.
I don’t like Redhat, I don’t use Redhat (anymore) but one thing they did RIGHT… was RPM.