WTF? Inaccessible bug reports?

Olivier Galibert galibert at pobox.com
Thu Nov 22 00:27:54 UTC 2007


On Wed, Nov 21, 2007 at 10:03:34AM -0900, Jeff Spaleta wrote:
> Question... can you dedicate one machine to run a local service that
> helps you keep track of the packages installed across multiple
> machines?
> As in when someone acting as a local administrator on a desktop
> installs something via Add/remove would you be willing to run a
> central service that 'sees' those additional packages and adds that to
> a aggregate list or database that you can then use to install the same
> software on other machines which should have it?

That's an interesting concept.  Orthogonal to what we're talking
about, but still interesting.


> Would that give you the sort of control you are looking for?
> Individuals control their own desktop software and then new software
> additions can propogate through to additional machines through a
> central aggregate service which keeps track of who is installing what
> on their desktops.

Just FYI, it's not about control, it's about convenience.  About 3/4
of the users have the root passwords (it's a research lab in computer
science after all).  They tend to ask me to install things instead of
doing it themselves because:
- it doesn't happen often

- half of the time, it's so specialized it's not packaged (praat,
  specific modules of R...)

- they know I'll ensure it's installed on all the machines they tend
  to use, including the clusters if necessary, and there is a good
  chance it will be added to all future installations

It's only bearable on my side if the "it doesn't happen often" holds.
I'm not sure why so many people here think users should spend half
their time installing software they're missing.  Disk is cheap, time
isn't.

  OG.




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