[sldev] There has to be a better way (or how I learned to stop worrying but still continuing to hate trying to compile the sl source code)

[Gordon Wendt]

I apologize in advance for the fact that this post is only half constructive
and the other half is pure gripe, if you have ever been a non programmer
trying to compile source code on a compiler that is not the one originally
used you will know how I am feeling right now.


There has to be a better way to deal with compiling the source code.  A bit
of background, tonight I made my first serious effort to try to get via svn
and compile the sl source code, my system is WinXP SP3 and I have Microsoft
Visual Studio 2005 pro.  SVN is simple and getting the source code was fine
then I attempted to deal with compiling the source code.  Even the various
instructions (which seem to be woefully out of date in some cases) on the
wiki pretty much state that it is a lost cause UNLESS you are using
Microsoft Visual Studio 2003.  I made it about halfway through the 2nd or
3rd install required to even get the base tools needed for the install
before giving up, rolling everything back or uninstlaling as it may warrant
and literally saying "*** this (I'd rather not self censor but more
importantly I'd also rather not be removed for cursing).

</rant>


My constructive statement is that even knowing enough about programming to
know that there are idiosyncrisis between compilers and that even though a
coding language is designed to be standard doesn't mean that it's standard
between compilers (a distinction which to this day baffles me to because it
is supposedly one of the reasonings we even have coding languages), however
between the impossibility of even getting to the libraries stage of
preperation and the fact that even if I had you have to essentially hack (in
the constructive and proper sense) the system to get the libraries needed
you have what is essentially an impenetrable barrier to 99.999...% of those
interested in actually compiling the source code.  I of course realize that
the compilers issue is not at all LL's fault or anyone else specifically's
fault but just a byproduct of many fragmented and disorganized systems and
the library issue is one that LL is (supposedly) slowly working to resolve
by bringing in free libraries where available to replace closed ones however
I re-iterate that there has to be a better way forward for all this which
I'm hoping that the discussion spawned by this ongwinded and ranting post by
an insomniac second life user will bring about.

-Gordon Wendt

P.S. I do try to have fun with my posts so please don't construe the subtle
and not so subtle references and in-humor to be degrading my message however
if you think you've found them all feel free to send me an IM noting them
and I may send you a small prize.
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