[Fwd: Re: cabal installation failure]

[Duncan Coutts]

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Mats Ahlgren <mats.ahlgren at gmail.com>
> To: cabal-devel at haskell.org
> Date: Wed, 19 May 2010 01:34:01 -0400
> Subject: cabal installation failure
> Hello,
>
> I've installed Cabal once in the past with no trouble. However I can
> no longer do so.
>
> I tried to install Cabal on a new computer:
> - I visited http://www.haskell.org/cabal/download.html and got the
> latest version
> - I followed the directions in the README file
> - No error messages were thrown, the process was "successful" and I
> now have a ~/.cabal directory --but-- it doesn't seem as if I have a
> 'cabal' command in /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin or even anywhere in the
> ~/.cabal directory.
> - There was no extra information in the README file; no examples of
> how to proceed or sample usage
> - I then followed the directions to view the user docs online. After
> locating them, it seems there are no instructions for end-users, just
> for people who wish to submit packages.
> - I then looked at
> http://hackage.haskell.org/trac/hackage/wiki/CabalInstall and noticed
> there was another way to do this -- with a ./bootstrap.sh -- but this
> file is missing in the latest version.
>
> The end result is that even after 2 hours, I am unable to figure out
> why Cabal is not working. If I was a new user, I wouldn't even know
> what Cabal does.
>
> I attempted to file a bug, but then saw I was unable to because the
> Trac installation is protected with basic http authentication.
>
> I write this out of concern, because these issues with documentation
> (and what may be a critical bug) may make people shy away from Haskell
> as a platform.
> Also if anyone might have insight into how to fix this, it would be
> much appreciated; thank you.
>
> Sincerely,
> Mats
>
> platform:
> Linux, Ubuntu "Karmic", GHC version 6.10.4; further information
> available upon request