[mythtv-users] A plea for some consideration for the poor suffering MythTV users

[Nick Rout]

On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 1:26 PM, Robin Gilks <g8ecj at gilks.org> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Aug 7, 2012 at 6:20 PM, Joe Henley <joehenley at kc.rr.com> wrote:
>>> There were a couple of replies which were helpful, but in the replies so
>>> far, not one -- NOT ONE -- has replied to his request.  _Documentation
>>> please_ to help him install a product which he likes.
>>
>> The reason nobody has complied with his request is because it would
>> not be productive.  There are much better ways to install or compile
>> mythtv then manually installing dependencies.  Which he is asking for
>> instructions to do.  Best way forward is to use apt to install mythtv
>> dependencies like other people have suggested in this thread.  The
>> developers of apt designed a very powerful system.  Use it.
>>
>> Now installing or compiling stuff for windows?  That is a pain in the
>> ass and does require a wiki article explaining how to manually install
>> 20+ dependencies.
>
> I assume from all the replies that if ever anyone encounters a problem
> installing MythTV then they blow away their chosen distribution and
> install the latest Mythbuntu.
>
> From those suggestions, what would be the expected result from using
> 'apt-get ....' on my Gentoo system for example - yup, got it in one -
> " -bash: apt-get: command not found"
>
> In other words, Linux != Mythbuntu, even for a MythTV install.

While you are technically correct, it is fast becoming the case that
mythtv = mythbuntu (at least by default) for many people for a few
reasons, and I am not trying to be exhaustive, but:

1. general newbie user familiarity with ubuntu, combined with the fact
you can get a lot of other software that people also like to run on
their backend on ubuntu (case in point, logitech media server (LMS)).

2. only one other specialised mythtv distro now that mythdora is dead,
and that is LinHES. LinHES is a great product but doesn't have the
market penetration. It has a very dedicated, but quite small team. I
was asked on this list to submit a ticket to get LMS into LinHES, and
I did so, but so far I don't think its been looked at or assigned, let
alone done. That is unfortunately a deal breaker for me. Not a
criticism of the LinHES guys, just an example of the fact that a
smaller project may give you less options for "extras".

3. mythbuntu's very up to date packaging - both master and
latest-release-fixes up to date after every commit. This is pretty
important.

I know people will have other ideas about what is good, bad or
indifferent about their fave distro, and point out that they have been
running myth on slackware since 0.16 without a reboot, but for a user
looking for an easy experience and up to date packages, mythbuntu must
be near the top of their list.

I used to be a big gentoo fanboy, I ran gentoo installfests,
proseltised it till the cows came home (pun? sorry), but got too busy.
When I retire I might have time for it :)

One thing about mint is that it does have mythtv in it's repos, but
the mythbuntu repos do not (presently) work with mint.