[Asmod4n]

they don't run without a runtime, and that runtime is backed by glibc, they just moved the issue one more layer.

Virtually all software for the desktop is compiled once and then shipped to users and they never see the source.

This works for Windows and macOS because their ABI allows it. For Linux you have to target each and every distro like a whole OS and keep up with it or your app won't run anymore after a few years.

This is also the reason why Linux has package managers and windows didn't have a official one for nearly 40 years. So its not all bad.

[arcfour]

It's the same problem, just spread out to different layers...Windows had DLL hell too, and then eventually everyone just packaged all of their required versions of DLLs and redistributables into their MSI.

What about Linux do you think changes so much? Everything still speaks X11 or PulseAudio on desktop. More broadly, the standard library is...the standard library? What's the specific issue?

[markus_zhang]

I kinda see this as a usability issue. If the app developer is willing to wrap the whole “download source and then compile” with a one click installation shield type software, most users would be fine.

But yeah then they need to track distros and such. I hope there are a couple of distros that have better back compatibility eventually.

[didntcheck]

And how would they distribute that compiler-installer as a portable binary?

[markus_zhang]

Yeah it’s chicken and egg again.

Maybe just focus on one or two distros maybe? Something focused on desktop experience.

[arcfour]

Shell script