Why I sometimes really hate linux-y stuff
I’m one of those people always on the fence when it comes to open source software. Sure, the idea is great, but when it comes to using it… well, I’m often disappointed.
Case in point: I’m trying to install GnuCash on my mac(s). There are installations that are easy, but they come relatively limited, particularly in terms of file formats. GnuCash can support nice database systems like mysql or postgres rather than just the original XML format. I want that capability. So, I try to compile the code required to add that support. No joy. Grrr. So, I decided to go with the MacPorts install… hours ago… I’m still waiting for all of the compiles of dependencies. The process so far has stopped 3 times on failures. It’s rather ridiculous. I’m sure someone would say “If you just used linux it wouldn’t be a problem”. Sure, you’re likely to be successful installing and probably more quickly on linux, but I don’t like linux very much. I’ll use it when I have to.
So, when I complain about linux, I’ll have to remember to add the whole issue of dependencies. I usually gripe about things like UI, which most people see right away. However, the dependencies issue turns me off very quickly. Let’s face it, the dependencies issue won’t go away. You could argue that’s the linux philosophy, but I suspect it’s really the Gnu OSS licensing making this stuff crazy. Let’s face it, open source software really isn’t free. Most OSS software comes with restrictions. I’m often willing to abide by these restrictions as a user because I really don’t have to think about them. However, if I understand the licensing (and I freely admit I don’t understand the licensing that well) there is a strong disincentive to compile and distribute the software, statically linked to it’s dependencies, as one big app. Thus, you’re stuck with installing dependencies that might or might not be compatible with the application you’re really trying to build. So, part of the cost of OSS is dealing with these kinds of issues.
Despite this complaining, the cost of OSS (and it’s more than just dependencies) is sometimes worth it. Some OSS software I use often are QuantumGIS and Zotero (I probably use far more than that, particularly in terms of libraries). I’m hoping that GnuCash fits in this category of being “worth it”.
What I’m hoping with GnuCash is that I have sort of an in-house common financial record system. Right now, I use GnuCash for my business accounting, but I’m wanting to shift away from Quicken for our personal work. We have a really old version of Quicken and I can’t justify in my mind the cost of upgrading, particularly since it doesn’t do the job the way I need to use it. In particular, it seems unsafe to use a Quicken file across a network connection. That always scares me with Quicken. My hope is that getting GnuCash working with Postgres or Mysql that sort of thing would be safer. I understand it’s still not safe for two people to use at the same time, but that’s okay. I want a safer and robust approach that my wife might be willing to use.
ah finally, it’s done.
UPDATE
Bah, humbug. All that work for nothing. Apparently, my installed version of Postgres is incompatible with libdbi. Geez!