Rapid version changes

[Michael T. Garrison Stuber]

--On Sunday, December 08, 2002 05:42:43 AM -0700 "Karl F. Larsen" 
<k5di@zianet.com> wrote:
>
> 	Hi Conrad, then I should just drop this list and bug Red Hat to
> fix the rpm they are shipping with Red Hat 8.0. Instead I just got the
> tar ball for gnucash version 1.6.6, a "stable" ie: old version and today
> Sunday I plan to collect files necessary to compile this version right
> on RH 8.0. Then at least I will know the software should run on the
> machine.

There is some wisdom in what you suggest.  GNUCash from source is 
inherently a "do-it-yourself" sort of experience.  The distribution 
companies spend a lot of time "polishing" things from the open source 
community so that they "just work" rather than requiring tinkering by 
users.

I highly recommend Mandrake if you're looking for a good desktop 
distribution.  I think their desktop support if far better than Red Hat's. 
The GNUCash RPM's that shipped with Mandrake 8.1 and up "just worked." 
They also have support services specifically geared towards desktop users. 
Red Hat is trying to embrace the desktop, but to date their focus has been 
on servers.  The beautiful think about Mandrake is the GUI based package 
management.  Bring up the rpmdrake by clicking on the "install software" 
icon.  Search for GNUCash.  Pick install.  It will automatically determine 
everything you need and install it for you.  And it just works.  I highly 
recommend it.  I am a tech geek by trade and I use Mandrake simply because 
while I can do everything by hand, I really don't feel like it.

If you really want to use Red Hat, I would give them a call (or email) and 
voice your concerns.  If GNUCash (from their RPM) isn't working well in the 
distribution, and you're paying for the distribution, it's a support issue. 
You will are much more likely to get the kind of support you appear to be 
after through a commercial channel.

--
Michael T. Garrison Stuber