[Gnumed-devel] Re: Which distributions (distros) of Linux are recommended for GnuMed?

[Andreas Tille]

On Mon, 31 May 2004, Jim Busser wrote:

> I meant that if a doctor's local IT support people have Debian
> installed but ordinarily prefer to install application software from
> source, or are not using Debian, or if the state of the CVS updating
> makes it desirable over a package, in any of these cases there exists
> additional "information value" in or from the package, for example
> where the various resources need to go, how various packages within
> need to be configured, etc.
For the first time I think heavy usage of the bug tracking system
(reportbug utility) is the best way to go.

> Also not clear to me (early in my learning ) is any mutual exclusivity
> between running from a Debian package vs from CVS. For example would a
> version of GnuMed contained within the package (once it is set up to
> run) be configured somewhat differently to GnuMed from source. In that
> case, having installed from a Debian package, it becomes difficult or
> complicated to update using the CVS? I am thinking for example any
> fixes should be important before the next package has been prepared.
IMHO it makes only sense for developers to use the latest CVS.
But you can always remove / purge the package and install from CVS manually.
Your milleage might vary when you build your own Debian packages from CVS
because of heavy changes in CVS which are possible at any time.

> Also are the Debian packages likely to be only for fresh installations?
No - if they would be it would be a serious bug.

> Or if, for example, any of the database structures or other files
> should change in a way that they should not simply over-write the old
> ones, would scripts required for correct updating be part of the CVS,
> and / or need to be prepared for  - - - and be included in - - -  each
> new package?
The package has to handle reasonable updates.

> All of this IMNO (i my naive opinion) becomes important if people begin
> to try to use one part of the program while others work on other parts
> of the program that may interact. One would hate for example to lose or
> corrupt useful data (even if it is test data) on account of something
> being updated.
While we are in Alpha state I can not guarantee smooth upgrades.  That's
the reason why the packages are named gnumed-SNAPSHOT ...

Kind regards

            Andreas.