Re: New paradigm for Linux distributions?
On Sun, 2004-02-29 at 14:19, Joel Konkle-Parker wrote:
> David Clymer wrote:
> > On Sat, 2004-02-28 at 15:50, Joel Konkle-Parker wrote:
> >
> >>I posted a small article on a possible future for Linux distributions:
> >>http://ballsome.com
> >>
> >>Thoughts?
> >>
> >
> >
> > Perhaps I'm just dense, but what's new here? To me, Ian's "plan" sounds
> > like a fairly good description of debian with "lets all use the same
> > package format" thrown in (another old idea). How is debian NOT
> > componentized? Doesn't debian already have a repository of packages
> > based on apt? Doesnt debian already support the installation of a "core"
> > system, and then allow one to download any specific components/software
> > one needs?
> >
> > I'm not saying that any of this is a bad idea, but why start another
> > project when one can get the same thing by just using debian?
> >
> > Perhaps others can tell me what it is about these concepts that I'm
> > missing.
>
> Well, I guess the difference here (in my idea, anyway) is that the main
> repository wouldn't be under the control of a single distribution. It'd
> be a central repository used by all participating distributions.
>
> Currently, Debian's repository is just that - Debian's repository. Yeah,
> it's very large, and very open to others, but it's still Debian's. I
> guess if you consider Debian's as "the world's", then we're already there.
>
Thats all true, its just that I don't really see that its practical to
start yet another project. _Somebody_ has got to control/manage the
repository. If it's not debian, it would be another organization
(Progeny perhaps?). Whoever it is, would have to create and enforce
policy regarding the managment of the repository, the creation of
packages for it (so that conflicts/dependancies can be
identified/defined), provide the equipment, bandwidth, etc. On top of
this, no one who disagreed with the policies under which the packages
(this would include dictating package type) were made would want to use
the repository or contribute to it. All these problems would be faced if
one was to try to get everyone to use and contribute to debian's
repository. Debian could be "the world's" if we could get everyone to
agree on all these things. So why not spend time promoting an
organization+policy+repository+community that already exists rather than
attempting to start a new one?
>From what I understand of it (again, I could very easily be overlooking
the whole point somehow), it seems like a very nice, but impractical
suggestion.
-davidc
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