Greetings, GHC users. If you install GHC from .rpm's, Debian .deb's, InstallShields, or other package formats, READ NO FURTHER. The following DOES NOT AFFECT YOU. The following applies ONLY if you install GHC from binary .tar.gz files. (Sparc-solaris users might, for example). As the GHC 5 release approaches, we're considering changing how binary builds of GHC are installed. The main aim of this proposal is to simplify parts of the GHC build system which have gotten a bit out of hand and are proving difficult to maintain as a result. The purpose of this message is to show the proposed changes and find out if it will cause problems for people. Up till now, the installation procedure (eg with 4.08.2) was gzip -dc ghc-4.08.2-my-platform-descriptor.tar.gz | tar xvf - cd ghc-4.08.2 ./configure --prefix=/where/ghc/should/be/installed make install The proposed new installation scheme is in fact a return to an old scheme: gzip -dc ghc-4.08.2-my-platform-descriptor.tar.gz | tar xvf - and then edit by hand ghc-4.08.2/bin/my-platform-descriptor/ghc5 to set the GHC_TOPDIR env variable to point to the top of the installation tree. So you run the distributed image in-place. The initial edit of the ghc5 script allows it to know where it is installed. This simplifies our build process; no longer do we need to create an installation-time Makefile or configure script and all its supporting junk. I assume that most users install from .rpms, so this change only affects package builders and sparc-solaris users. Please eeeep ASAP if this will cause you problems; otherwise we will go ahead with it in in the next couple of days. J