hell... i'd even like an option to somehow be logged in as root, and then be able to switch to a user to run the PackageMGR app... if you can accomplish this, i haven't figured out how!! in other words, how to be at the same box, and login as two separate gui users? with the same keyboard/monitor! not coming into the box from a separate box.. -----Original Message----- From: fedora-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:fedora-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of R. G. Newbury Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:22 PM To: fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Package Manager Denies Permission to Install >> No nuanced and masterfully persuasive oratory can disguise the fact that >> >> someone has made *and enforced* a decision that *they know better >> >> than the user* how "THINGS MUST BE DONE" purely because the doing, is >> >> considered to be 'not best practice'. >> >> >> >> In this particular case, the 'best practice' enforcement approaches >> >> religious fervour in its application. In the particular instance which >> >> started this thread, PolicyKit nags about being root, and then *refuses* >> >> to allow the installation of an rpm! It does not deny the right to >> >> download and install the rpm in a console....It just denies the user the >> >> advantages of using PackageManager to resolve dependenices directly. >> >> >> >> And *exactly* what nuanced extra is added to the equation, by forcing >> >> the administrator to log out of root, to log in as a user, to do the >> >> same thing? Especially in a circumstance where the install is actually >> >> desired to be general and not user-local? This position is idiocy. >> >> >> >> I don't mind a nag. I DO mind unknown and unaccountable people >> >> attempting to enforce their quasi-religious beliefs on me (by >> >> quasi-religious, I mean the attitude which equates doing anything while >> >> root is akin to giving booze and car-keys to seventeen year old boys: >> >> instantly and always catastrophically dangerous.) I know using root can >> >> increase the probability of disaster. But I want to be able to decide >> >> what the limits of my risk tolerance are, not have someone else do it. >> >> >> >> That argument, the libertarian argumnent is one of the underlying bases >> >> of the free software movement. Let's have it recognized and venerated in >> >> the code! >> >> >> >> Geoff > > My memory is that the designer of PackageManager indicated on the list > > that running PackageManager as root has security problems that running > > it as a user and entering the root password does not have. I believed > > him. Your objection is that it makes you log as a user rather than as > > root. > > > > I believe in the theory that "freedom" derives from the words free doom > > indicating that everyone has a right to commit suicide in his (or her) > > own way. I strongly support your committing suicide in any way you > > desire. > > > > Aaron Konstam >I would like to know why the developer of PackageManager makes a >distinction between a root and a user login? Cut out extraneous code. >Make any user enter the root password. > Kam Leo That works for me. I don't object to entering my root password to do something. I do object to being told that in effect I don't own my own box and I therefore cannot do something as root. But I do own the box. And if I break it, I will have to fix it. Someone previously noted that I should fix the code. I would do that, if there were any reasonable prospect that my patch would be applied to the code base. And since there is no such reasonable prospect, I am not going to waste my time doing that. Geoff -- Please let me know if anything I say offends you. I may wish to offend you again in the future. Tux says: "Be regular. Eat cron flakes." -- fedora-list mailing list fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list Guidelines: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicate/MailingListGuidelines -- fedora-list mailing list fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list Guidelines: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicate/MailingListGuidelines