Terry Lambert([EMAIL PROTECTED])@2001.07.09 13:29:23 +0000:
[...]
> There are too many steps.
>
> X11 is a distribution set, instead of a package.
>
> Etc. (I could go on forever).
>
...then let's wrap up a concept of a interpreter language driven
installer. redhat does it in python since years, so could we...
some rough and spontaneuos ideas:
- stripped down python interpreter runs as init
- class framework for 'plugin modules' such as postinst config,...
- basic 'service' classes for abstraction of the ui, binary execution
and fileio (for config files)
- every class has properties which can be preloaded (=unattended install
functionality from 'recorded' install session or manually generated
setup)
- ability to run in 'expert' command line mode (ab)using interactive
python, text ui, x gui/tk mode
- after installing the base dist, we could import batteries included
python libs from the userland for configuration/upgrade management and
so on, perhaps stuff configuration metadata into xml and re-write it
to the appropriate (maybe new/different) format -- oops, i said the
x-word :->
- instrumentation to do 'the right thing' _or_ to be very talkative by
message/dialog emission properties, severity levels -- we would need
some kind of policy for that because of the multiple user interfaces
- remote install dialog ui using ethernet as transport (yay!) would be
a nice idea
- making the base system consist of packages would raise the need for
package db flagging of non-removable/mandatory pkgs
- xf86 must become a package, yes ;-) IMHO it's a pain in the ass to
upgrade xf86 without side effects when it was installed as tarball
- with that step we also could package sendmail and bind out of the base
system ;-) hint-hint
- package signature verification would also be a nice thing to have,
especially with signature fetching over the net
so the scheme would boil down to something like this:
[gui multiplexer]<--+-->[cli]
^ +-->[text ui]
[cdboot/loader] | +-->[xf86 gui]
| | +-->[remote ui]
v | +-->[unattended]
[kernel]->[python]->[rc-loader] |
| |
v v
[messaging/core]<------+-->[config writers]
^ +-->[exec subsystem]
| | ^
v | |
[sig verifier]<->[dist source handling] | v
^ | [fdisk/disklabel/...]
[cd mount]<---------+ |
[hd mount]<---------+ +-->[upgrade subsys]
[nfs mount]<---------+ +-->[package installer]
[ftp/http fetcher]<---------+
<disclaimer>
this in no way perfect, just some idea -- feel free to flame me if i
missed the point, but don't rip out my intestines ;-)
</disclaimer>
/k
> -- Terry
>
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