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September 27, 2006

The Movable Type upgrade procedure sucks

Just upgraded to the latest version of Movable type. It's one of my least-favorite upgrade procedures.

• The download archive is broken. Again.
• The documentation on upgrading is hard to find and inadequate.
• The procedure effectively amounts to installing all over again (1,300+ files) despite the fact that the documentation glosses over it as "simply" having to upload the new files "over your existing installation".
• A superior solution for upgrading (via Subversion) could be offered but isn't. All web applications should offer distribution and upgrading via Subversion, in my opinion; in one easy step it delivers:
  • Easy installations
  • Easy upgrades
  • Automatic merging of local customizations
  • Ultra-fast application of security patches (important in public-facing web applications)

Complaints aside, it's now done.

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Posted by wincent at September 27, 2006 1:01 PM