----- Original Message -----
From: Simon Wise simonzwise@gmail.com To: Jonathan Wilkes jancsika@yahoo.com Cc: "pd-list@iem.at" pd-list@iem.at Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 7:32 AM Subject: Re: [PD] arraysize WAS apt.puredata.info is back!
On 28/09/12 12:48, Jonathan Wilkes wrote:
I'm referring to what Hans wrote:
For me, apt-get install pd-arraysize is far easier than
trying to
remember that [expr] trick. And thankfully we can write
externals,
so we can have choice. :-)
exactly ...
Not exactly-- you were referring to using the Debian packaging system in a general sense to find packages, and you were saying that calling someone who uses it a mythical user is not inaccurate.
no .. I was saying that debian users who treat their debian repository as an extension of their system and the first place to look for something they need to do are not mythical at all, that if you are familiar with the debian tools it is very quick and easy to find which package has a file or functionality you are looking for, and that not surprisingly some of these users are able and willing to do the extra bit of work to make things they find useful available in the way they find convenient.
So if you think the debian repos are the first place to look, then you would agree that arraysize should tell the user they can get the same functionality with expr which is already installed with pd-extended, pd-l2ork, and pd vanilla and therefore more modular, right?
If some debian users find it convenient then it isn't obsolete and shouldn't be deprecated unless the maintainer is tired of keeping it there or it is becoming incompatible with other things in that system.
A huge number of non-debian users also benefit from the work done in debian maintaining dependency information, documenting licensing and building for a variety of hardware platforms ... they benefit via developers using that information to set up the systems that are widely used. A few extra bits and pieces that are mainly useful to a few debian users isn't a problem.
Simon