Comment by madez | Hacker News Reader

Comment by madez | Hacker News Reader

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No. I expected them to compile their game for the system and try to run it. If it didn't, it would be immediately obvious because the issues were so obvious.

The next step would be to upgrade the system to Debian testing, and then check again. If it still doesn't work, upgrade to Debian Sid, and then check again.

If it worked on any of those, report that and everybody knows in what version the issues will be fixed. If it doesn't work in any of those, go over your marketing and remove claims about linux compatibility. The engineering side of this is less than one work day of one developer. It's literally installing, compiling, starting, upgrading, compiling, starting, upgrading, compiling, starting.

The next step is to figure out in what component an error is, and get the latest upstream version of that component. Then, if the problem still persists, file a bug report against upstream, not against Debian. At that point, you are mostly done, and can at least claim to having done your part.

This isn't magic, nor is it difficult nor time-consuming. Heck, I would do it for free on some weekend if I were given access.

Nobody's going to do that, they'll just say "Use ubuntu" and close your ticket.

I _know_. That stone-walling is a reason why they have so many issues. I'd rethink that approach, and consider the cost of the ticket answers and marketing efforts to fight the flames vs that one day of a developer.

I don't understand why they wouldn't do it, though. I see no plausible explanation.

However, what if it doesn't work on Ubuntu either?

>I don't understand why they wouldn't do it, though. I see no plausible explanation.

Money seems like a good reason. If a tiny fraction of your sales and a large fraction of your bugs are from a particular subset of those users, you don't want those users. They are too expensive.

> Money seems like a good reason.

I'd get that argument when the question is whether to make a linux version or not (using the 'movie model'). But my non-understanding was regarding Uber's refusal to spend the work day of one developer to do the right thing (you don't even need a trained developer for most of that work). If it doesn't work on either version of Debian, it is pretty safe to claim that it won't work on Ubuntu, now or soon in the future.

My principal point is that games on linux can be made just fine, but it must be done differently than for propietary systems. If you try it without changing the approach, there will be pain. And people will complain. Rightfully so.

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