Re: Octave 4.2 binary + all packages in Linux ?

[roland65]

Mike Miller-4 wrote
> The only reason one is easier than the other, for you, is because the
> maintainers decided it is necessary for Windows but not for GNU/Linux,
> because distributions are already doing their job.

Of course, I understand that developers have done a hard work to provide
these binaries on Windows.

But I think that we should have the same thing on Linux, because I see that
the packages offered by the distributions are often (by far) outdated.

Actually, to get Octave 4.2.1 on Ubuntu, I had to compile it myself and also
to compile (and patch!) a number of packages. A long and tedious work, that
can only benefit to Ubuntu users and not to Fedora or OpenSuse users...

I don't think the standard Linux user can do this and then he would have to
wait monthes or years to get the new version with bug fixes.

So, *if it is feasible*, I ask to Octave developers to try (I understand
it's difficult) to deliver a distro independent binary with all packages.

For example, the Scilab developers deliver such a binary package (for
Windows, Linux and Mac) and I never had a problem to install and run it
under various Linux distributions.

Perhaps, could it be done using the new snap or flatpack package systems,
that are supported by many distribution now?

To clarify my position: I'm a developer myself (Xfe, TexMaths) and I know
the difficulties of delivering binaries to end users in the Linux world.

Of course, for a little application like a file manager or an editor there
is usually no problem distributing it as an rpm or deb package. This is not
the same with a big complex application like Octave, that is used by end
users but also by universities and companies...

This is not criticism of the developers work, just an idea to facilitate up
to date Octave installation on Linux.





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