From: Minero Aoki <aamine@...>
Date: 2002-12-06T04:48:19+09:00
Subject: Re: install.rb

Hi,

  In mail "Re: install.rb"
    Anders Bengtsson <ndrsbngtssn@yahoo.se> wrote:

> >    ruby install.rb config
> >    ruby install.rb setup
> >    ruby install.rb install
> 
> I'll have to join Daniel Carrera in complaining. What is really the
> point of this multi-step procedure?

Because it is a common, flexible procedure.


> * Of all the packages using it, how many even *need* configuration?

There are so many people who want to install packages in their
home directory (e.g. /home/aamine/lib).

  $ ruby install.rb config --prefix=$HOME

is useful for this purpose.


> * Why the middle step with setup, can't this be done in either config or
> install?

Hmmm... I consider some short cut.


> * The required order of these steps is not obvious to the user.

Agreed.  I have added some messages.

  # example
  ~/tmp/tmail-0.10.6 % ruby install.rb
  No task or global option given.
  Typical installation procedure is:
      $ ruby install.rb config
      $ ruby install.rb setup
      # ruby install.rb install  (may require root privilege)
  Try 'ruby install.rb --help' for detailed usage.


> * When they break I've found it hard to find out why.

There are three reasons:

  1. install.rb is too complicated.
  2. Building procedure is generally complicated.
  3. extconf.rb is a command, we cannot use it as a library.
     (But install.rb requires such functionality.)

I can resolve problem #1 (maybe).
No one can resolve problem #2.
We should resolve #3, but it is very hard.
It requires replacing all existing extconf.rb.

-- Minero Aoki