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Old 09-08-2005, 09:10 AM   #1
bruse
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explain.


i am newbiew.
may i know the difference?
what is difference between command, packages, and softwares?
 
Old 09-08-2005, 09:25 AM   #2
Matir
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A command is generally something you type at the console. Input that tells the computer what to do.

A package is, loosely, a single installable unit. It's some collection of files, and may be part of a piece of software, a full piece of software, or may even contain multiple pieces of software.

Software is just that... the stuff that's not the hardware.
 
Old 09-08-2005, 10:15 AM   #3
teebones
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nice one matir! could say it better myself
 
Old 09-08-2005, 10:20 AM   #4
Matir
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Thanks teebones. I've found a lot of new users have issues with the concept of "packages", though in reality it's quite simple. It's a little like a .zip or .exe installer under windows, I suppose. Though better managed.
 
Old 09-08-2005, 07:30 PM   #5
bigjohn
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Quote:
Originally posted by Matir
Thanks teebones. I've found a lot of new users have issues with the concept of "packages", though in reality it's quite simple. It's a little like a .zip or .exe installer under windows, I suppose. Though better managed.
Which is nothing, compared to when you are actually looking for some sort of executable file, and are used to just "finding" those .exe or .zip files.

The concept of having to do something like ./somekindof.installer-version.3.6.7-someother.stuff.sh or any version of that.

Plus, even now, I find some of the language/terminology a little confusing (after about 6 or 7 different distros over the last 3 years).

It could be personal stubbornness that I'd like to see things a little more straight forward. Mandrake/Mandriva is a good example (and quite a few other distro's that I haven't tried, I suspect). That with a lot of "off the shelf" systems, you can get away with just bunging the disc(s) in and booting the system, which will find space or at least offer suggestions of where it might go, then you can just accept the defaults and have a fully functional linux install.

Sure, that's not to say "screw the geeks". They are an integral part of the linux community, and should be considered as well. Though I seem to recall that mandrake/mandriva offers "advanced" install for those with lots of knowledge who want to "tweak" stuff during install.

Either that, or go the "gentoo" way. Inasfaras, it offers install versions for those with the serious knowledge, but also excellently produced documentation, so that those with less knowledge can have a go at the "tweaking" or just a reasonably quick "ready meal" type install - all supported with the aforementioned docs.
 
Old 09-08-2005, 08:10 PM   #6
Matir
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Yes, go the gentoo way!

We geeks do love our complex-looking command lines. Anyway, I agree that for the "average user" many things, predominantly hardware configuration and software installation need to be streamlined and MORE IMPORTANTLY done in a consistent manner.
 
Old 09-08-2005, 11:48 PM   #7
ubuntu2
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Re: explain.

Quote:
Originally posted by bruse
i am newbiew.
may i know the difference?
what is difference between command, packages, and softwares?
http://www.faqs.org/docs/lnag/
 
  


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