Re: GNUstep directory layout

[Stefan Urbanek]

On 2002-09-11 20:00:32 +0200 Lars Sonchocky-Helldorf 
<Lars.Sonchocky-Helldorf@bbdo-interone.de> wrote:

> > I agree.  The  "Developer" domain is there only  because the Developer
> > tools are packaged and sold  separately by NeXT Computer, Inc. and now
> > by  Apple  Computer,  Inc.  There  is  no  good  reason not  to  store
> > developer applications into the /System/Applications directory.
>
> This has changed a bit, they don't sell their dev tools at all. You get them 
> with a retail version of Mac OS X (although on a separate CD) or you might 
> download them for free. Maybe that Developers directory is just a left over 
> from those times. But if you install them temporarily on one users machine (to 
> check something for instance) you can easy get rid of them afterwards. But as 
> Richard already pointed out, there are those rpm thingies on Linux machines for 
> tht purpose.

The packaging system is fine, but I think it was 'invented' because 
applications were spread in many directories (/usr/bin for executables, 
/usr/share for data, etc.). In GNUstep we have bundles. If user wants to 
install an application (framework or any other bundle), he/she just copy the 
application bundle in to right place. Removing is similar: just delete the 
application or move it using workspace into recycler.
This is very simple and the user does not need to tackle with some installer 
application or tool. Packaging system is not really necessary for gnustep, just 
in few cases like tools with resources.

I think, we are just too used to unix. GNUstep/Cocoa is more than 'another 
object library', it  has its phylosophy and its feel. Why to restrain it?

Stefan