[fpc-pascal] What to do to get new users

[Nikolay Nikolov]

On 10/16/24 3:30 PM, Rainer Stratmann via fpc-pascal wrote:
>> Free Pascal is exactly as "scattered" all over the Linux system, as gcc,
>> clang, rust and pretty much any other compiler. How is this exactly a
>> problem, since all major distros ship fpc as an official package and it
>> is used to build other packages as well? It's not exactly difficult to
>> do e.g. on Fedora:
> In my view that is a huge problem. You defend it simply by saying other
> programs do it, too. You rely on the distro in relation to updates.
>
> I am very experienced in making software that my clients understand. If I
> would throw the software in front of my clients like this I had no chance to
> sell it to them and to survive. I know exactly what I'm talking about. If
> there is an Update of the software more than 100 clients can press a button
> and in 10 seconds at the latest they have the newest version. I'm putting it
> on a golden platter because they don't even have to pay for it at the moment.
> Because I see it also as an advantage for me to learn from the clients needs.
> And it is a very big advantage to have a fast feedback. Instead of waiting
> years for the newest version.
>
> With one ZIP File that contains all necessary files you can have a similar
> effect.

Compilers are very different, compared to regular apps. Linux distros 
usually have very special rules for packaging compilers, as well as for 
updating them. So, in a way, they are sort of a "system" program, as far 
as Linux distros are concerned. They are a tool, used for building the 
distribution's other binary packages. They're not just some 
self-contained app.

Most Linux users should be fine with just using fpc from their distro. 
And those who want to build fpc trunk (and these are not beginners) can 
still use fpc from the distro as a starting compiler.

Maybe the FPC website needs to include information on how to install fpc 
from the distro, for distros that package it. For example, the download 
page for the Nim compiler includes that under "Installation using 
package managers":

https://nim-lang.org/install_unix.html

Nikolay
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