Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 69031
Linux download needs clearer label
Last modified: 2014-02-20 20:47:27 UTC
Please mention which package management system is used by the Linux PPC and Intel architecture downloads. RPM and apt are two common ones. Due to Ubuntu, and by extension Debian, apt is getting much more common. The Intel one could say something like : Linux Intel RPM, Linux >2.2.13 (120 MB) The other could say something similar. One a slow connection, 120 MB is a long wait to find out if or if not it's the right version.
---------------------------------------------- Installation Steps 1. Unpack the downloaded image into a directory. For example, currently, the following command would unpack into the current directory: 2. tar xvzf OOo_2.0.4_LinuxIntel_install.tar.gz 3. su to root, if necessary. 4. cd into the directory with the unpacked image. This could be RPMS. 5. Delete any rpm files that do not apply to your system. For example, on a Fedora Core 3 system, delete any rpms specific to another distribution such as openofficeorg-suse-menus-1.9.79-1.noarch.rpm. 6. Then execute rpm -Uvih *rpm. ------------------------------------------------------ To find this, I first had to (a) download the single, huge, .tgz (b) unpack the .tgz (c) discover that the .tgz was a bunch of .rpms, each of which should be provided seperately as .rpms (d) read the included README (e) discover that the included README contained no information about how I should deal with the .rpms on a non-rpm-based Linux (there are some, you know!) (f) return to the website, which is now slow and barely functional enough to use with large heaps of patience, a difference noticable as a result due to my ISP capping my amount of download per month, but wholly the fault of the OpenOffice server being crap, since other pages and static content load reliably (g) attempt to download OpenOffice for Linux again (h) at the last minute, select to read the "Installation Instructions" Now that I have explained how I found it, do I need to explain what is wrong with it? Any explanation regarding how you have come to (a) bundle all individual components into one huge zipfile and not provide platform-neutral or multiple installable formats is simply inadequate. You need to look deep into the political direction this indicates, this bug extends further than a simple technical decision. My experience implies a deep political misalignment within OpenOffice.org. Another symptom is the bug reporting system: this could be easier to find, and easier to use, perhaps even removing the requirement to register in order to report a bug. As well as obvious problems in addressing the "Open" working methodology (ie neutrality, transparency, welcoming newcomers), these problems point to a serious syndrome known as "head in the sand syndrome". If all of this sounds "non-technical" and kinda "flippant", then I suggest adding another point or two to the priority of this bug. Thankyou in advance for your prompt attention to this matter, please have a kind day, thankyou very much.
" 1. Unpack the downloaded image into a directory. " The label needs to say in the first place that these tarballs are *RPMs*, not .deb files for APT. Downloading a 120MB file just to find out whether or not it is the right one for your system will frustrate or anger. The instructions are much improved: http://download.openoffice.org/2.1.0/instructions.html#linux But please add a few words stating explicitly that these are RPMs (or whatever they may be)
Reset QA Contact to new default
Download webpages have changed over the last years. Now we show some more details, so the user can see what he will download. Closing as obsolete.