Linux.exe
post
I am this person. Every time I hit github I think to myself ' oh shit, here we go again' as I have to rediscover how it works.
WHERE DOWNLOAD LINK
Most likely in the "releases" section
Like 5 percent of the time when some software is only available on GitHub and I go there do they have an actual release available there
Yeah seriously. A lot of devs also point out where to download from in the readme.
Because they WANT ppl to use their software!
I dunno.... I see more build instructions and whatnot, myself.
to be fair, that's probably a bias on my part 'cos I'm only slightly improved from the original meme
Honestly, ten seconds into trying to figure it out I usually reevaluate if I really need it and close the tab.
I'm doing the opposite, whenever a program's website smells of marketing talk and I can't find what exactly it does and how in five seconds, I hit Github instead and read the Readme. Surprisingly, devs consistently want to wax eloquent on the project site, but get straight to the point on Github.
This is me without all the swearing, lol. I am not a code person but I am into FOSS for ethical and privacy reasons and some github pages can be truly frustrating especially if it's an app that's description is exactly what you're looking for yet it's out of reach.
The Releases page! Check the releases 😭
If it's not there and there are build instructions instead...be afraid. Be very afraid.
What's annoying is when the build is not just "git pull then run python main.py"
And it's like "compile this using this special library no one else uses called Blueberries, then wrong it through Rust v4.8279 (no other version works), then it will output a blob of text to copy the API key from that you put in this other special compiler, and if you mess up any of these steps it is all permanently irreversible. Also the person making the code forgot like 3 random steps in there because it's second nature, duuuh."
99% of the time you need to install pip packages and if you do this without venv/uv/conda you're sort of fucking up your python install for other repos you're running from source
Also Blueberries has been discontinued, but don't worry, it's forked on this other super obscure repo and you need to configure your package manager to accept that as a source.
I'm OPs defense, there isn't always one. I've run into some that say you gotta compile it yourself, use docker, or whatever.
Bro just:
curl -s http://raw.githubusercontent.com/Juche1948/NotABackdoor/master/packaging/linux/install.sh | sh
Trust me bro
Should probably run it with sudo to avoid those annoying permissions errors.
My pet peeve is the releases page always being so hidden. For some reason half the time it's in the sidebar??
I actuallty recoiled in fear seeing "build instructions." Didn't realize the amount of PTSD inflicted upon me via those github pages. 😭
“INSTALL: build from source” 😬
it’s just as much my fault for needing weird niche programs and not just learning, but christ i swear every time i’ve done it the steps have been completely different hahahah
Most based opinion ever. I don't understand why GitHub can't have a dedicated "download" button; why they can't put it right on the top of the page, and make it a requirement? I'm tired of having to hunt around for the "releases" section, assuming it's even there to begin with (and half the time it isn't)! Sometimes the developer buries the download button in the middle of the description instead, sometimes they don't include it at all and expect you to compile it yourself. It's inconsistent and bullshit.
because in most cases, github is not for marketing its for source code. its why they make github pages if you don't have a public facing domain.
GitHub is designed for sharing code. Executable downloads are not really supposed to be there, but small projects with no budget won’t put in the effort and money to host their own downloads on a separate website.
Do you know how much easier malware would spread on github? Its esoteric as a speed bump.
I know you're actually serious, but this is coming off as satire. Did you read the OP?
You can't make this shit up.
ugh where is my exe to install the linux app on my windows
They managed to somehow open a pull request 😭
I'm 50% sure it's just a joke, but then reality is way dumber than fiction, so who knows
idk opening a pr instead of an issue is exactly what I would expect someone who has no idea how github works to do
Github is up again?
And I believe this person was being serious
Your link contains a tracker at the end, you'll want this one.
github/comments/1at9br4/i_am_new_to_github_and_i_have_lots_to_say/
Thank you!
What's funny is, half the time there IS an exe file, but it's in the sidebar under builds and not always obvious like a big green "DOWNLOAD HERE" AD.
He's not wrong
Definitely not wrong. As someone who works nowhere near the tech sector who has attempted to dabble in Linux, that initial learning curve is just too high. I don't have the time to dedicate to that, I have other interests in my life
Not even Linux, the READMEs of a lot of code repositories are sometimes made for people who already know what it is, but seem alien to anyone just trying to understand "does this codebase help with my use-case?"
The beauty of it is that once you work out how Linux and self hosting works, you won't have time for anything else. So the cliff face learning curve is to dissuade the filthy casuals.
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