[jordigh]

Isn't this a lot like Gobolinux again?

http://www.gobolinux.org/

It seems to go a bit beyond just treating each package as its own fiefdom but all the way to doing it with separate OSes, but it's the same basic idea: cooperation is impossible, every package for itself.

It's essentially how Apple's app bundles work too: everything has to package all of its dependencies. This seems to use btrfs instead of dmg.

[vezzy-fnord]

App bundles work for Apple because they have perfect control over the API/ABI stability and what consists of the base system, and then the user applications.

On GNU/Linux, where you work by assembling white-box components, it's not so straightforward. That said, there have been similar attempts: Autopackage, Klik, 0install, Slax packages... none have received widespread adoption. Seems like no one actually cares until you force the ecosystem into it.

[wmf]

Maybe assembling components is the problem. Why should we expect a good OS to emerge out of components that are independently developed with no coherent vision?

[digi_owl]

Civilization has done just that, unless one subscribe to the Illuminati theory...

[digi_owl]

Gobolinux (and NixOS) don't go as far as what is suggested here.

On Gobolinux each version of a program or lib is given its own versioned subdir in /Programs, but that's as far as it goes.

What Poettering is pushing is for full containerization, where each "app" has its own tailored environment.