Shalom Naumann wrote:
> Is there a reason why the installation instructions 
> (http://www.povray.org/download/linux.php) recommend creating a special 
> directory in which to put the downloaded .tgz file? 

These instructions are especially for beginners.  Therefore it is 
necessary to say where to save the file (just saying 'somewhere' would 
confuse).  Saving and unpacking the package in $HOME would interfere 
with the installation (which creates a ~/povray-3.6).

> And also (though I 
> know that version 3.6's code isn't out yet), the Generic Source version 
> should be directly linked from the Unix section, because many Linux 
> users (such as myself - I compiled LinuxFromScratch) like to install 
> everything from the source and may not realise that the downloaded .tgz 
> isn't the source.

Right at the beginning of the download page 
(http://www.povray.org/download/) it says:

"This page will provide you with links to the official POV-Ray version 
3.6 binaries and support files."

and right next to the download link for the linux binary version there 
is the "POV-Ray Source Code" box.

To me this seems perfectly sufficient for everyone who wants the source 
to find it and not to mistake the povlinux package as a source distribution.

Also note that for every Linux/x86 user the official binary version is 
the recommended way of installing POV-Ray.

Christoph

-- 
POV-Ray tutorials, include files, Sim-POV,
HCR-Edit and more: http://www.tu-bs.de/~y0013390/
Last updated 01 May. 2004 _____./\/^>_*_<^\/\.______

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