From the=C2=A0downloads=C2=A0page on the=C2=A0GHC homepage:

Version 7.8.4 (r= eleased December 23rd 2014)

Stop!

For most users, we recommend installing the=C2=A0Haskell Platform=C2=A0instead of GHC. The current Hask= ell Platform release includes a recent GHC release as well as some other to= ols (such as cabal), and a larger set of libraries that are known to work t= ogether.

On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 11:01 AM, Simon Peyton Jones <simonp= j at microsoft.com> wrote:

I notice that in the ne= w Haskell pages, the Platform is definitely not the recommended way to go:

=C2=A0

Like Richard, I was astonished by this. I always thought that= the Haskell Platform was the route of choice to install GHC, together with a respectab= le set of libraries. =C2=A0=C2=A0It=E2=80=99s certainly what I install on a= new machine!

=C2=A0

Let=E2=80=99s not forget the large but non-vocal set of ill-informed= and/or would-be users, who want a simple answer to =E2=80=9CHow do I insta= ll GHC?=E2=80=9D.=C2=A0 It may be that the HP formula needs re-visiting, but I think it=E2=80=99s very important that we continu= e to give a very simple (click here) answer to that question.=

=C2=A0

Simon

=C2=A0

From: = Libraries [mailto:libraries-bounces at haskell.org] On Behalf Of Mark Lentczner
Sent: 21 March 2015 17:54
To: ghc-de= vs at haskell.org; Haskell Libraries; haskell-platform at projects.haskell.or= g; haskell-infrastructure at community.galois.com
Subject: wither the Platform

=C2=A0

I'm wondering how we are all feeling about the platform these days....<= u>

=C2=A0

I notice that in the new Haskell pages, the Platform is definitely not the = recommended way to go: The main download pages suggests the compiler and ba= se libraries as the first option - and the text for the Platform (second op= tion) pretty much steers folks away from it. Of the per-OS download pages, only the Windows version even menti= ons it.

=C2=A0

Does this mean that we don't want to consider continuing with it? It is= a lot of community effort to put out a Platform release - we shouldn't= do it if we don't really want it.

=C2=A0

That said, I note that the other ways to "officially get" Haskell= look, to my eye, very ad hoc. Many of the options involve multiple steps, = and exactly what one is getting isn't clear. It hardly looks like there= is now an "official, correct" way to setup Haskell.

=C2=A0

The Platform arose in an era before sandboxes and before curated library se= ts like Stackage and LTS. Last time we set direction was several years ago.= These new features and development have clearly changed the landscape for = use to reconsider what to do.

=C2=A0

=C2=A0

I don't think the status quo for the Platform is now viable - mostly as= evidenced by waning interest in maintaining it. I offer several ways we co= uld proceed:

=C2=A0

1) Abandon the Platform. GHC is release in source and binary form. O= ther package various installers, with more or less things, for various OSes= .

=C2=A0

2) Slim the Platform. Pare it back to GHC + base + a smaller set of = "essential" libs + tools. Keeps a consistent build layout and ins= tallation mechanism for Haskell.

=C2=A0

3) Re-conceive the Platform. Take a very minimal install approach, c= oupled with close integration with a curated library set that makes it easy= to have a rich canonical, stable environment. This was the core idea aroun= d my "GPS Haskell" thoughts from last September - but there would be much to work out in this direction.=

=C2=A0

Thoughts?

=C2=A0

=E2=80=94 Mark

=C2=A0

_______________________________________________
ghc-devs mailing list
ghc-devs at haskell.org
http://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-devs<= br>

--f46d0444e8ed5d0eef0511f204e5--