The package manager is just one part of the problem, and it's not even clear that the problem as a whole can be reasonably solved.
Imagine for a moment that all distros used .deb as their package format. That is a small step in the right direction (leaving aside the relative merits of .deb vs other formats) but the application developers would still have to produce lots of package for different distros because they each have different packages which are split up differently, have different dependency structures, and different versions as well as being differently patched and built with different options. One suggestion to solve this might be to have a minimum common "core" distro, but that would force the distros all along the same route, killing the diversity that gives us the competition that is important to progress. I believe that having one package format is a worthy goal, but not for the reason you suggest. One format would be good because: 1) Packaging is not an area where we need new whizz-bang features and revolutionary change any more. Competition is good, but it's already fairly clear what is needed. The existing systems have already evolved to the state where we can see what is best. 2) Even if forced to build lots of packages for different distros, it will still help the packagers to only have to learn one build and packaging system. 3) (Many of) The users will be happier only having to learn one packaging tool, even though they use multiple distros. 4) Writing the kinds of graphical front ends people want these days would get a lot easier, and all distros would benefit. 5) Once package formats are shared, more things can be much more easily shared too. (e.g., the whole distro build system, distro customisation tools, the aforementioned graphical front ends and probably a lot more besides) -- Multiple package managers hurting Linux adoption https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/240770 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
