[OS X TeX] How Long...

[Ross Moore]

Hi all,

On 21/06/2008, at 11:28 PM, Herbert Schulz wrote:
> Howdy,
>
> In assembling software for the MacTeX 2008 release I've stumbled  
> across a bit of a dilemma that may be a bit controversial. The  
> questions is... How much longer should we support Panther (OS X  
> 10.3.9).
>
> More and more software updates have dropped Panther support so that  
> requires having two versions of the software in the MacTeX (and  
> MacTeXtras) distribution; an older one for Panther and a newer one  
> for Tiger/Leopard. This is leading to a bit of bloat in the  
> distribution as well as limiting what can be included because of  
> space considerations.

I'm generally against throwing away things that are still potentially
very useful.

Either ensure that older versions of MacTeX are well-preserved
and easily accessible on a website, or ...

>
> One very recent example is the release of Aquamacs Emacs 1.4 which  
> is no longer Panther compatible. Since this is a large  
> distribution, a >50MB dmg file, it is impractical to include both  
> the 1.4 and 1.3b (Panther compatible) versions in MacTeX.

  ... do not include images of software distributions that are well- 
packaged
already. Simply have links to their own distribution sites; that way the
developers can get a better idea of how much their own stuff is being  
used.


>
> So, let the discussion begin. How many people, especially at  
> Universities and other Organizations, which distribute software via  
> Disk still need Panther versions?

Are we talking about distribution on a CD or DVD?
If a CD, then definitely use links to large dmg files.
If a DVD, then are were really close to filling it up already?

>
> Good Luck,
>
> Herb Schulz
> (herbs at wideopenwest.com)

Hope this helps,

	Ross

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ross Moore                                       ross at maths.mq.edu.au
Mathematics Department                           office: E7A-419
Macquarie University                             tel: +61 (0)2 9850 8955
Sydney, Australia  2109                          fax: +61 (0)2 9850 8114
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