I'd love to see this linux x-window system util...


What are the dependencies?

I've been trying to install various games on my Fedora box but I get one message after another that some lib or package is not installed. MY SuSE box had similar issues.

Is there one big list of all the packages needed and their dependencies somewhere for gaming?

If so, is there a iso of all those files with a gui installer?

Before someone says cvs or any other linux package update util to me, please note that I don't have internet access on my linux boxes. Also, you can only update what you know you have.


My idea.....

* util checks your system for the files including dependencies
* output of files found plus version info and location that can be saved to a text file (debug purposes or autoscript
* script to autorun rpm or compile source code
* option boxes to include files not on the cd util
* downloadable iso of the gui util/with all files included for all types of games

Check the box...
[] <package> (dependencies auto selected and displayed on the gui)

... now all the opensource community needs is for the developers to get with it, standardize install locations and have all distributions do the same.

APT and YUM both have gui's and they automatically resolve dependencies.

What I meant was a CD that has all the files needed for any Linux system to run any type of games. The CD would need to have compilers and their libraries on it in case the install doesn't have compilers or the distro didn't come with them. I mean a installer util that has all the packages on the CD so you don't have to hunt them down.

The reason I posted this was because I saw a 20 reply or more thread to a post on slashdot about Linux never getting close to Microsoft Windows* because you have to mess with dependencies when dealing with gaming.

Here's the link.... http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/09/10/1929209


So... what you would end up with would be a support pack CD specifically for gaming only. No games on it. Just all of the files required. A universal pre-game install CD for newbie, novice and expert alike.


To recap, this is what I think it should do...
* search your Linux install for drivers/utils/libraries matching those on the util CD.
* version info output to text file and gui text box
* all paths verbosed
* all file versions listed with old vs new listing
* "other" option for each install selection, whether RPM or tarball, so you can select a file on you hard disk or other storage medium or internet location.
* autoscript so no commands such as "rpm -i --force <rpm name>" or "tar xvzf <filename>; ./configure;make;make install" needed for every file you intend to install from the CD.
-

I know what YUM and apt (apt-get) are. I've been to linuxpackages.net and looked at what they have. Stuff to make packages, download packages and compare/install/uninstall packages. But... no one has the files required plus all their dependencies on a CD that all install in the correct order, before you attempt at installing any games.

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http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=21514&cid=2287986

Linux and games, i don't know... (Score:1)

by CaptIronfist (457257) <vokiel@hot[ ]l.com ['mai' in gap]> on Wednesday September 12, @02:59PM (#2287986)

We've got one MAJOR problem that prevents games from invading the linux environment. The 'Out of the box' concept. Most games developped for linux, well most of what i saw, had so many freakin dependencies, installing them is one of the worst nightmare a gamer has to face. That, of course, doesn't help making games more popular under linux at all. ( I double dare anyone to prove me wrong. )

We'll have to realize someday that reusing common APIs for our projects is great, but sometimes the wheel has to be reinvented to prevent complications and a sh*tload of dependencies.

Anyway if the wheel had not been reinvented, we would still be traveling in wooden chariots. So what's the point of reinventing the wheel? MAKE IT FREAKIN BETTER!

Of course, we could always make us a full standard DX clone and try the gaming experience again, however we would still have freakin problems with hardware support and all that sh*t.

A small opinion in a small world, here's another one for a short conclusion:

Linux = 'for workin';
Windows = 'for playin';

BTW: I have yet to see Tribes 2 run correctly on Linux. That maybe is because i tried running it with a Matrox Card or just because i have no clue on how to configure DRI properly, but it still points back to the beginning of my comment: "Where is the out of the box?"
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There are some distros such as games-gnoppix that just focus on games. Try taking a look at distrowatch, there should be a list of games distros available. I can understand your frustrations, but I don't think it's possible for any distro to include all dependencies unless they actually include the game in their packages.