Distro value added [was Re: [clue-tech] DHCP Server and Package Install Date]

[David L. Anselmi]

Michael J. Hammel wrote:
> On Mon, 2008-08-11 at 22:37 -0600, David L. Anselmi wrote:
>> So what value do distributions add?
>> - pre-built software (the bare minimum)
>> - correct dependencies
>> - upgrades that work
>> Is there something more fundamental than those?
> 
> That's about it.  However, that's a lot, which anyone whose ever tried
> to do LFS knows.  It's no mean feat just to build it all correctly, much
> less make sure seamless upgrades work.

True, but many hands make light work.  And it seems that the big distros 
can get the software built and packaged correctly (maybe there's a delay 
figuring out new versions).  Upgrades aren't always as smooth as they 
could be but unless you have tight platform control that's by far the 
hardest problem, I think.

But dependencies seem like a solved problem.

Dave