Re: OT: latest stable version not recommended

[mwoehlke]

address@hidden wrote:
> On 2006-09-27 19:00:44 -0500, mwoehlke <address@hidden> said:
> > Paul Eggert wrote:
> > > <address@hidden> writes:
> > > > Can I validly talk Apple into upgrading their provided gzip to 1.3.5
> > > > when this is not in the stable category (for _whatever_ reason[s])?
> > > > If 1.3.5 is fine to use, it needs to be assigned as such, or Apple
> > > > would find an argument to close the bug rather quickly.
> > >
> > > Debian stable uses gzip 1.3.5.  Solaris 10 uses gzip 1.3.3.  (Both
> > > have added patches, for security reasons.)  Anybody using gzip 1.2.4
> > > in this day and age ought to have their head examined.
> >
> > Ok, as one of "anybody", I have to object to that... The problem is 
> > the only thing advertised *anywhere* is 1.2.4. I had to look *really 
> > closely* at http://www.gzip.org to find 1.3.3 (and don't even bother 
> > with http://directory.fsf.org/gzip.html; no mention there)... which, 
> > of course, is labeled "beta" and doesn't mention anything about 1.2.4 
> > being "bad". And darned if I found a 1.3.5 anywhere except 
> > http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net. If I have to be an "insider" to have 
> > any clue that 1.2.4 is "bad", then someone (multiple someone's, 
> > really) is SERIOUSLY dropping the ball as a maintainer.
>
> Yes if one doesn't know about the alpha FTP site, one wouldn't find the
> official gzip-1.3.5 sourceball:
> ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/gzip

Right, but of course I didn't find any *links* to that. IOW, as you 
said, one has to "just know" that it exists. And further that despite 
its alpha status, people really do recommend using it.

> Now look at the dates -- this has been tucked away for four years?!?!??
> (fwiw apparently gzip is so old, there are no discussions groups, 
> mail-lists,
> or web forums for it; gmane only carries info-zip and 7zip groups here...
> so how would one get word out?)

Old, and apparently unmaintained, which was sort of my original point.

Word would get out by a new stable release (as we've said, isn't it 
about time?!), which would be announced on, at minimum, 
http://www.gzip.org and http://directory.fsf.org/gzip.html.

--
Matthew
Download. Untar. Configure. Make. Install. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.