# Installation has gotten worse

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012>\
**Category:** New to Julia\
**Tags:** installation\
**Created:** [August 9, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012 "2024-08-09T22:06:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LordAncient](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/lordancient/32/211212_2.png) [@LordAncient](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/LordAncient)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/1 "2024-08-09T22:06:10Z")

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Installing Julia used to be easier; it used to work like every other “app” on my Mac. Now, I’m asked to copy/paste some command (no explanation on the options on that command, isn’t it bad form to train users to copy/paste code into terminal?) into my terminal (I know how to start terminal, but my students will not know). And when there’s an error, like  
“Error: failed to create symlink `/Users/kevin/.juliaup/bin/julia`. Caused by: File exists (os error 17)”  
there is no recourse. No help. I have 30 students in a course that uses Julia — they will each get their own error message and expect me to help.

1. Why has the install process gotten so much worse?
2. How do I complete my install, in light of the above error?

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**Author:** ![LordAncient](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/lordancient/32/211212_2.png) [@LordAncient](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/LordAncient)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/2 "2024-08-09T22:13:26Z")

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![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/original/3X/f/1/f182a144bcde6f2053227d983c9bfa2f0997c40f.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![mohamed.d180](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/mohamed.d180/32/52028_2.png) [@mohamed.d180](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/mohamed.d180)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/3 "2024-08-09T22:17:34Z")

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Here you use juliaup see this  
([Symlink error when link/file exist · Issue #773 · JuliaLang/juliaup · GitHub](https://github.com/JuliaLang/juliaup/issues/773))

You can skip this down on the same page and download the binary like (.dmg) for your OS

 ![Screen Shot 2024-08-10 at 1.11.47 AM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/original/3X/1/e/1e7d75c7749c21a829b754d1eb2be72b2f9aef53.png)

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**Author:** ![LordAncient](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/lordancient/32/211212_2.png) [@LordAncient](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/LordAncient)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/4 "2024-08-09T22:43:00Z")

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How’d I miss that? Thank you mohamed.d180!

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**Author:** ![StevenSiew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/stevensiew/32/218393_2.png) [@StevenSiew](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/StevenSiew)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 1:52am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/5 "2024-08-10T01:52:23Z")

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The issue with symlink existing was created on 21 dec 2023.  
Today is 8 Aug 2024.  
Why is this issue not fixed even today?  
Should not the juliaup installation process first check if this issue exists AND if it does exists print out a newbie friendly text that

1. Explaining what the issue is
2. Propose a newbie friendly instruction on how to fix it

This is NOT Rocket Science.

If an old installation infrastructure exists, then offer the user a process to remove the old infrastructure. Then ask the user to install again after the removal of the old infrastructure.

Just me venting…

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**Author:** ![abraemer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/abraemer/32/51403_2.png) [@abraemer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/abraemer)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 6:18am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/6 "2024-08-10T06:18:37Z")

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> [@StevenSiew](#):
>
> Just me venting…

Well instead of venting you could also just go ahead and do it. It’s all open source after all.

> [@StevenSiew](#):
>
> This is NOT Rocket Science.
> 
> If an old installation infrastructure exists, then offer the user a process to remove the old infrastructure. Then ask the user to install again after the removal of the old infrastructure.

I agree it’s not rocket science but a few things need some thought because there are details that matter. So by all means if you want this fixed just do it. If can’t/don’t have time/etc then also fine. But please keep your pointless negativity at bay.

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**Author:** ![Eben60](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/eben60/32/13475_2.png) [@Eben60](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Eben60)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 9:16am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/7 "2024-08-10T09:16:59Z")

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> [@abraemer](#):
>
> If can’t/don’t have time/etc then also fine. But please keep your pointless negativity at bay.

This negativity is not pointless. First, it draws additional attention to a rather important issue. Second, @StevenSiew suggests what can be done about it. The common FOSS sentiment “do it yourself or shut up” is not always helpful.

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**Author:** ![abraemer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/abraemer/32/51403_2.png) [@abraemer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/abraemer)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 10:28am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/8 "2024-08-10T10:28:53Z")

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I totally agree that this is an important issue and probably should be fixed soon. However I really dislike the tone of @StevenSiew. On top the comment does not provide much beyond “well we should check better, provide better explanations and a better way forward” which at that level is easy to say and not very constructive/actionable.  
I am totally one for constructive criticism, but that can be done in a more neutral/respectful manner.

Perhaps the post isn’t supposed to come off as condescending as it reads to me. Tone is kinda ambiguous in written text after all. I am totally prepared to accept that this is a misunderstanding. However it does close with

> [@StevenSiew](#):
>
> Just me venting…

Which for me transports that the author indeed wanted to load off their annoyance. Which I feel is “pointless negativity” in the context of a civil discussion.

> [@Eben60](#):
>
> The common FOSS sentiment “do it yourself or shut up” is not always helpful.

I also agree fully with you on that point. But still think it’s an appropriate response to comments that are mainly just venting off frustration.

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**Author:** ![mohamed.d180](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/mohamed.d180/32/52028_2.png) [@mohamed.d180](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/mohamed.d180)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/installation-has-gotten-worse/118012/9 "2024-08-10T13:42:46Z")

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With respect to all responses above, but we must say that removing the previous installations of julia is the user responsibility (E.g the path var which may affect the use) , And that mentioned in [installation](https://github.com/JuliaLang/juliaup?tab=readme-ov-file#installation).

Although adding issue to juliaup if any one has good solution.  
([guideline to remove previous julia installations completely · Issue #1007 · JuliaLang/juliaup · GitHub](https://github.com/JuliaLang/juliaup/issues/1007))