Paul,
> I have been amazed by the power of the simple optimization rule "remove
> barriers to entry", and how it has worked. The Windows port of PgSQL
> and associated installer (itself a "distribution" in the kernel-metaphor
> sense, only carried on the main PostgreSQL site) has had a huge affect
> on PostGIS usage, so I assume the same holds true for PgSQL in general.
>
> But such an approach (one size fits all, click the big green button for
> download) is basically the diametric opposite of what you suggest.
Well, for example we *can't* do a one-size-fits all including PostGIS
unless you get it re-licensed.
However, I've been talking about build systems here at the conference
again. While it's a technical barrier there may be open source software
we can borrow. The best of all possible worlds would be to have:
pg_install
> install base
.... done
> install gis
Package GIS is GPL licensed. Package GIS requires x, y, z. Proceed?
if that's not possible, then having more clear packages would be the
next best thing. Given a shortage of labor, though, I think that it
might be better to just provide documentation to the OS build engineers
and vendors about add-ins they might be interested in and how to find
and build them.
--Josh