Sidux has a nice simple script called "xtras"

"extras" is The MultiMedia Installer. To run the script, do, as root: cd /usr/local/bin ; wget -Nc http://aynos.esmartguy.com/extras ; chmod +x extras ; extras

Of course ANY of the apps are available in either non-free or debian-multimedia, not like it is that hard to do a simple apt-get install crap.

Anything that changes my sources.list or messing with anything other than running apt-get install would never be ran on my system. Why would anyone trust a script to those kind of things to begin with?

"Why would anyone trust a script to those kind of things to begin with?"

Scripts are easy enough to read and review. Another plus for the Unix CLI over (compared to Windows) an installer.

I stumbled upon this thread, and I'm still a Linux beginner. I didn't have to consider Automatix because I mainly use Linux Mint instead, but there is several issues not addressed in this thread.

1. Yes, Synaptic is itself simple enough, but how is a beginner supposed to know what all they need to install? I didn't really know what a codec was before I started Linux less than a year ago, but for internet audio/video and streaming, you need them all just in case instead of waiting till something doesn't work.
2. Adding/understanding repositories isn't completely simple. Combine that beginners don't know what they need, don't know where to get it, and don't necessarily know what to ask for. I could have spent more time trying to figure out non-free stuff on Sidux when I tried it, but combining the installer crash with that issue, I decided to wait till 2007-03 and then maybe I'll try it again. I don't mind using the command line, but 1/2 hour of learning per day is about the most I'll do, and is more than the average home PC user.

That said, I've installed Sabayon 3.4e too, and keeping just a few packages up to date by compiling from source makes Synaptic and apt-get seem like genius.

You come on a site like this, and ask, "I tried to execute <program name> and it did not work to my expectations. It failed giving me this <error message>" If you titled your question appropriately, and included enough information about your installation, you will have an answer generally within ten minutes or so.

I'm going to point out why in my opinion people, like myself, use Automatix... they see an alternative to windows, and decide to give it a chance, to learn something new, they install the distribution of their choice, usually one more well known, and many a time "Ubuntu" once in the linux world they find that things are not so simple, there is not an abundance of well defined software, that is fully functional or simple to use, they do however find benefits, safety, a decent graphical interface, and may be satisfied, but as we all know a linux system does not work imediately after install, codecs, drivers, and other "stuff" needs to be installed, before the system can work satisfactorily, it takes time, and they hear or find out about "Automtix" and in the spirit of curiosity, give it a try, they like the simplicity, and functionality, and they do not even see or know that it has errors, that it is modifing files or getting certain priveledges, it simply works, and so they experience that, and recomend it to others that are struggling or are in a hurry, and the word spreads, and so you have a large comunity or group of users using the software. Those of us, that use automatix, use it for simplicity and time saving, and are probably new or somewhat new, as to where we do not know so much about the basis upon which it operates, and we NEED people like you to warn us of the problems, or to fix them simply. Now, I am able to accept that Automatix may have issues and in turn take some time to install programs the
right" way, especially since i enjoy maintaining a clean system. So thanks for the information, and reading what i believe to be the reason for automatix success. I am awaiting responses, thoughts and comments. Thanks, MJ

It was never really an issue to me as long as it stayed in Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a distribution aimed at people new to Linux, and it is unstable enough in it's own right that adding additional instabilities here and there is not really a big deal.

They pissed me off when they made a big deal of trying to pass it off as something suitable for Etch, as well. It is not ready, and as far as I'm concerned it isn't desirable.

Agreed. Automatix is something that is not needed in Debian. I prefer using aptitude to manage software on my Debian systems. There is a lot of information available about how to use aptitude, MJ:-)

http://www.debian.org/releases/stabl...ts-new.en.html

My experience is that new users turn to things ixe automatix for the same reason they install malware on their windows machines: ignorance.

The simplest example is with music.

I want to play my music - discover that I cannot.

I would normally look for a working player from a third party (I'm used to this from windows) but stumble across some information which tells me that I really just need to be able to play mp3 files.

OK - roll eyes - now I try to install mp3 playback capabilities to my existing player or attempt to install a third party player which does this out of the box.

What I have not realized is that "music" is not the same as "mp3" and there's no eye-rolling about it. The possibility of converting my mp3 collection to a free format probably doesn't occur to me... if I found out about it, I would also discover that there is a loss in quality (from one lossy format to another) in the conversion. Same quality = good. Less quality = bad. That I cannot hear the difference doesn't occur to me (if you think that you can, try the test double-blind).

Most of the software on things like automatix is like that. Sometimes I want something which allows me to watch particular streams, but mostly I want an experience as much like my old windows one as possible.

Thing is, I should be using the same methods to find this out that I did with windows... I'd log into MSN and they would tell me about the updates and freebies available. I don't consciously care about the license as long as it doesn't hurt me (right away).

So I should do that with my distro website... and they are usually pretty good. But it doesn't occur to me to do this... why not? For all my life a computer was the same thing as Windows. If Microsoft cannot help... I have to hunt all over the place. The idea that anyone else may have a central repository is alien to my thinking. C'mon - we've all been through this.

I sell technical support for GNU/Linux and FS/OSS. I keep getting: "I bought this game from a reputable computer store but it doesn't install." And I have to tell them to read the box where, in small letters, it says "requirements". Do they have all the requirements?

"Yes" is the puzzled reply.

But does it say "Linux"? No. What does it say?

"Windows 98, 2000, XP ... Oh." And realization dawns.

Windows users regularly skip that part.

Or think of those mac ads that get spoofed so much... "Hi, I'm a mac", "And I'm a PC"... I like the Novell spoof: "Oh hi Linux" and they both hide their screens. "Hi Guys," she says, "Are you running linux by any chance?"
"Maybe..." (PC)
"NOT ME!" (Mac)
"Oh go on, you can admit it..."
"I couldn't help myself!" (Mac)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkFQVcl62qo

This is the right approach... I think we also need a wee pamphlet with those free CD's we throw around at SFD events and suchlike. Though magazine coverdisks are usually well covered inside. (That said: a recent-ish PC World had Ubuntu 7.04, but no install instructions between the covers... or anything to indicate how it is to be used. Just a note to visit the website. You should have seen the support requests on that one.)

New users need help. Automatix and EasyUbuntu provide for a genuine need. It is the wrong thing to do. Think: how do users learn about automatix? Can't they learn about repos the same way?

[...I also think that experienced Debian users should want to have their Debian peers doing things the "right" way instead of taking unnecessary shortcuts which trade stability, security, and platform reliability for entertainment value...which is primarily what automatix provides as far as I can see.

I did not know! I ran Automatix2, on Kubuntu, and it worked great. Every app I tried to install with Automatix worked first time. (on several different,fresh Kubuntu installs). Now, as a Noob, I did not know of potential pitfalls and desire to remove offending automatix and I don't know how to "reset" without completely reinstalling. I prefer security/stability over bleeding/eye candy.

"New users need help. Automatix and EasyUbuntu provide for a genuine need. It is the wrong thing to do. Think: how do users learn about automatix? Can't they learn about repos the same way?"

They can, and for the sort of noobs that will turn into geeks this is easy enough...

For non-geeks/people who just want to _use_ the machine it would be useful to have an "AutoEasywhatever" so they can install what they want and get on with business. They trust the repositories, why not have an "easy" (defined as "noob tested and noob approved) installer that is trustworthy?

Different things are intuitive for different people. If I assumed everyone else was just like myself that would be silly, so I don't do that.

Experienced users see repositories without understanding that noobs don't see them the same way. While the goal of educating everyone is laudable, it isn't realistic.