Let me explain one of my aggravations with Linux... 

There are times when I want to try out a new program (which we will 
call program A, not original... But it will work) and I find out that 
there isn't a package for program A on my disco.. So I get the source 
and compile it.  Well I find out that program A needs library B and my 
version of library B is only 1.2.55.3.4.1 not 1.2.55.3.4.2 that it 
requires.  As luck would have it there isn't an update for library B on 
my computer so I set off to compile it too, which in turn means I need 
to get library C and D to get it working.  I compile everything and 
install it, hoping that it will work, often times with varying degrees 
of success.

Over time, my original distro, be it debian, mandrake, or whatever, 
mutates into some other creature all together where package management 
is holding on a thin thread that is drawn tight and ready to snap 
because of all the non distro libraries, programs, etc I've installed.  
How to you guys deal with this? 

I've tried all sorts of distos, they all seem to have this weakness, 
which I know is kind of the nature of an open source OS that is 
constantly evolving... but still, any ideas on how to make everything 
play nice?  What distro carries the latest and greatest versions of 
libraries? or at least tries to.. I know its hard to keep up and make 
it all work.

anyway... I'd like to hear your input, comments, suggestions, war 
stories

thanks

Ren

Pangaea Games - Fantasy Gaming to the Extreme!!
http://www.pangaeagames.com