Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 10:56:41 -0700 From: Nate Williams <nate@mt.sri.com> To: Steve Kargl <sgk@troutmask.apl.washington.edu> Cc: nate@mt.sri.com (Nate Williams), hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: linux software installation and uname Message-ID: <199811091756.KAA04904@mt.sri.com> In-Reply-To: <199811091746.JAA10366@troutmask.apl.washington.edu> References: <199811091713.KAA04612@mt.sri.com> <199811091746.JAA10366@troutmask.apl.washington.edu>
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> > > I've recently installed the Portland Groups's Fortran 90 > > > for Linux on my system (it works!). However, during the > > > installation from the cdrom, a install script is executed > > > that contains a test involving "uname -s" to ensure the > > > installation is on a system running Linux. Of course, > > > "uname -s" on a FreeBSD system returns "FreeBSD" instead > > > of the expected "Linux". Thus, I had to alter uname(1) > > > to report "Linux" to install the software. > > > > Actually, you didn't. Stick a uname in the appropriate /compat/linux > > directory and it will be called (and return Linux) which doesn't bloat > > FreeBSD's code with Linux-centric bits. > > > > This can be done as a simple shell script or as complex as you'd like. > > > > First, I generally agree with your anti-bloat sentiments. > > Sure, I have the capability to write the script or C program, and stuff > it into /usr/compat/linux/usr/bin, but this isn't a general solution > for Jane Doe user. She wants/needs to run linux software, and she > may not have the know-how to work around this problem. Neither > ports/emulator/linux_lib nor ports/devel/linux_devel supply a uname(1). Ok, then provide one as part of linux_devel. It's a simple as adding a patch to the port that adds a simple script that returns linux. > I am not claiming that my suggested solution is the best solution. > But, we can't ignore the problem exists. At this point time, the > Portland Group has no intention of supporting a native FreeBSD version > of their software. I suspect other commerical vendors will have a > similar attitude (particularly if they know about FreeBSD's linux > emulation). Then they need to be informed. The easiest solution is almost always the wrong solution. Nate To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message
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