Do You Really Want to Compile Source Code?
Posted by Johan Cyprich on 06 Aug 2007 | Tagged as: Programming
Are they serious at the Wired How To Wiki? They recently published the article, Compile Software From Source Code. This article is about the increasing number of open source applications that are becoming available. The idea here is that at times you’ll have to compile the code to have a working application. This is something the average user will be doing apparently.
Now I have a hard time believing that a hairdresser will download an open source program, download and install a compiler, and then compile the application. No problem. Of course, the source code will compile perfectly and will work flawlessly. Anyone who has tried to compile someone else’s program only knows what a fallacy this is.
A software developer who expects their users to compile their programs should take a reality check. Software should be easy to use and easy to set up. There should be one program, the setup application that you run to install the program. There should also be a program to completely uninstall the application if the user doesn’t want to keep it.
The article also claims that “the process is fairly simple” for compiling source code. It then goes on to recommend using a good command line compiler to do this. A command line compiler is easy to use? Has the author ever used one?
The article lists which compilers to use for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows. The amazing thing is that it claims that Cygwin is “more useful and user-friendly” than the Visual Studio Express compilers. I have a hard time believing a command line compiler is easier to use than a GUI compiler that has an integrated editor, debugger, and the .NET Framework.
If you create software and you want to get customers and retain them, the software needs to be easy to use and install. Well written documentation is also a must. You don’t want your customers phoning you and asking for help installing a compiler just to compile your program.
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4 Comments »
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on 09 Aug 2007 at 10:35 am 1.Alex Bevilacqua said …
./configure
make
…. not rocket science (assuming all dependencies are met … and there’s a configure script … and you know how to access the console to enter these commands … and you’re not trying this in a native windows command prompt … ok fine, it’s easier to hit F5 and see if everything builds and runs, but then you’re limited to a lesser OS
)
on 11 Aug 2007 at 9:33 am 2.Johan Cyprich said …
I tried installing Cygwin and its not very friendly. I had to run the setup program a second time just to be able to get into its command prompt. I don’t like the idea of going back to a command line compiler after using integrated environments for years.
Cygwin is not a simple one-click install that the Visual Studio Express compilers are. An experienced developer would be able to get it working well with some effort. A novice would be lost at the install process. The default install doesn’t even install any compilers, or at least the relevant C++ one.
If your developing cross platform UNIX/Windows applications, Cygwin would be a good tool to use for the Windows part.
on 20 Aug 2009 at 3:45 pm 3.rycotton3 said …
i agree cygwin is hard to install but vb is impossible to use i couldnt even find the compiler
on 22 Aug 2009 at 12:16 pm 4.Johan Cyprich said …
You can find the compiler at http://www.microsoft.com/express/vb/Default.aspx.