> compatibility between versions of the same product. Second, software can
> be written (and organizations set up) to manage software patches for
> people automatically. (RPM and RedHat come close to this.)
>
As a side note to this thread, I've been paying attention alot lately as
to the advantages of rpms/packaged binaries versus the tar.gz way of
compiling your own code and getting more in touch with your system and
understanding how things work a little better. In my investigations, I've
read a bit about debian's apt program which as implemented in slink and
(eventually) in the potatoe dist is in my opinion even easier and better
to use than redhat's rpm system of packages. Has anyone ever had any
experience with this?
dave