After a fairly unproductive discussion with another new user (about installing on Linux) on a thread near here, I just browsed across the relevant wiki pages. Sigh...
There is no lack of information, indeed I found ten pages on installing lazarus on Linux before I stopped counting. Some dating back to Ubuntu 10.04. Most generally accurate but not really helpful ! And, obviously, not being updated.
I sure don't feel like updating them because its not clear what the overall structure is and anything I add will just add to the confusion. Been my experience that this is a normal thing to happen to any well used wiki !
This forum thread by Handoko does have most answers but, being a forum, is full of differing opinions and, dare I (?), occasional misleading statements. And asking a new user to read a 60 post thread .....
I suggest a restructure of the whole thing, its been a "back of my mind" project for some time and considering how drastic what I propose is, would not start until I have heard a few people say "good idea" !
What I'd do is replace (slowly)
http://wiki.freepascal.org/Installing_Lazarus with and overview of the process, why so many models, why some are more appropriate for some uses etc. No platform specific data, nothing that goes out of date quickly.
Then, 'under' that page, we'd have platform specific pages, MacOS, Linux, Windows, Other each with a reminder that a new user should read the first page before starting. I'd reuse much wiki data and, hopefully, eventually remove a few pages but just mark them legacy for now.
I had a crack at Installing_Lazarus_on_MacOS_X in 2017, while it needs updating as we no longer need panic about gdb, its not a bad model. Much original data is still there, down under a Legacy heading, I'd be surprised if anyone has read that legacy content recently.
As well as providing new users with an easy and welcoming env, we need to avoid content that is obviously out of date. Its a problem on any wiki but a bad signal to send ....
Thoughts ?
Davo