Linux Dependencies! Grrr...What now?

[Jeff Blaine]

>First, I found out that mysqldb will only work with python 1.5.2...which
>necessitated an upgrade. Dependencies! Dependencies! I ended up
>installing python, python-devel, blt, tix _tkinter and tkinter. (I've
>been warned that as the result of my upgrade, I have now "broken"
>netcfg, but I'll deal with that on another day.)

My recommendations to you are:

- If this type of thing has you completely annoyed and this is your
  first bad experience with the 'everything AND the kitchen sink'
  Linux mentality, either pick a different OS (FreeBSD comes to
  mind) or hunker down and try to fool yourself into thinking you
  are having fun.

- Complain to Red Hat.

- Compile your own Python 1.5.2 with all of the stuff you want/need
  and place it in your home directory or somewhere else that is away
  from the OS.  Leave the Red Hat version of Python alone and in
  parallel with yours.  For all of your work, reference your area.