The most annoying thing about Linux is software installation. Take gnucash for instance; there are a ton of dependencies that no one seems to be able to meet. It's almost impossible to install. I have often run into similar problems installing software in Linux. So, if a developer is going to use all kinds of funky dependencies to write their software, why don't they just bundle all those dependencies together, write a script to check for already installed packages and install the missing packages? I mean, if you want users to use your software, why not make it easy for them to install your software. Can anyone explain to me why installation is the way it is?

becuse then all software becomes huge and bloated downloads, and it would mean installing things you wouldn't neccessarily want to install. It's taking liberties with someone's system, kinda like installing spyware with something.

Also at times, some distros will already have these dependencies. I'm sure the developer acknowledges that some might have it installed already and wouldn't want to break their existing system, installs, etc.

You can't have an installer that checks for installed software and skips anything already installed?

As far as large files, most people have broadband these days. I can download gigabytes in no time at all.

There has to be a better way then spending days, even weeks trying to install software or never getting it installed at all.

Well, since you are a Slackware user, have you thought about using Swaret or Slapt-Get? They will resolve your dependencies for you. With dependencies, under Windows it's easy, all you need are a handful of dlls. Under Linux, how far would you like them to go? Many posters here find they forgot a compiler or make - 2 incredibly basic dependencies. Then you have to think about people who go for a minimum install - they'd need a huge number of add on files. And those add on files may have their own dependencies - and so on and so on.

Gentoo's portage system seems to take care of dependency-hell very well. Or atleast I think so.

It sound's like you haven't tried installing Gnucash.

I used swaret about a year ago when I first tried Slack and it fried my OS. I don't trust it. I usually do fine by hand. Like I have WebMin, but I never use it.

As far as people with miniman installs, they are not likely to install the desktop stuff like I do.

I haven't tried Gentoo, but I thinks BSD's portage system works pretty well.

It just seems like there could be an easier way.

Maybe some genius Slacker will come up with something really cool.