Re: adding include path in linux

[Ludovic Brenta <ludovic@ludovic-brenta.org>]

Dmitry A. Kazakov wrote on cpmp.lang.ada:
> On Mon, 18 May 2009 03:00:52 -0700 (PDT), Ludovic Brenta wrote:
> > On May 18, 11:53 am, "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mail...@dmitry-kazakov.de>
> > wrote:
> >> Maybe, it would appropriate here.
>
> >> I am going to write a small portable GtkAda-based installer program for
> >> GNAT library gpr projects. The basic idea is to get rid of ugly makefiles,
> >> which never work as expected.
>
> >> The thingy should do everything just per reading lists of files to install
> >> from a directory of sources. Then according to the file names and
> >> extensions it will shuffle the files here and there.
>
> >> Some mangling of the gpr files is planned. In particular modifying "with"
> >> paths and "for Object_Dir use" stuff etc.
>
> >> Generation of a messy python plug-in script is also in plan.
>
> >> Any suggestions?
>
> > Please define "portable"?
>
> Minimally: working under Windows and Linux.
>
> > Debian for one does not need a GtkAda-based installer because it
> > already has one, called Synaptic (as well as a text-based installer
> > called Aptitude). Most other self-respecting distributions come with
> > both installers and a proper package management system.
>
> Yes, a system working only on the platform in question, like rpm.
>
> > So, what
> > platform are you targetting that does not already have these?
>
> Technically speaking GNAT GPS.

GNAT GPS is not a platform. It runs on a platform that you have
identified as "Windows and Linux". The platform provides a package
management system (including installation and configuration
subsystem). It would be harmful for GNAT GPS to provide another
incompatible system.

I suggest that the best use of resources, if packaging/installation is
a problem, is to provide native installers for a selection of target
platforms, and to make the libraries thus packaged highly visible to
users of those platforms. For example, installers for libraries that
use Window's or Red Hat's (since you mentioned RPM) package management
system. That's what I do (successfully) in Debian and I have been
encouraging others to do the same on other platforms for several
years.

This is in fact one area where, IMHO, portability is NOT desirable.
The closest thing in existence is the GNU Ada Project which provides
native packages of several libraries (and versions of GNAT) for
multiple platforms, from a common base. But the binary packages are
themselves platform-dependent.

--
Ludovic Brenta.