Re: My ideas

[prasad gadgil <prasad@pacific.net.in>]

At 08:26 PM 10/18/00 +0400, Wartan Hachaturow wrote:
> Here is my ideas about the project.
>
> 1. License issues
>
>     In case we use the software which is written under BSD, it should be 
> BSD. If it's GPL, it should stay GPL. It's as simple as it sounds. All 
> the Debian-specific tools are GPL, so we don't have to worry about 
> possible steal of our code :)
>
> 2. Userland
>
>    I think there is no need in GNU userland porting to the BSD, since the 
> differences is not so big -- it's a useless waste of time. We have a lot 
> more work to do. And, at last, we can create two base packages -- with 
> BSD userland and with GNU one, just to satisfy the needs of addicted ones ;)
>
> 3. [Main one :)] Ports/Sources/Binaries
>
>   In my mind, having the binaries is a Good Thing for people with slow 
> network connections and slow machines, so it's better to distribute 
> binary packages for most users (those who have fast machines and networks 
> anyway wouldn't want to wait until the compilation is done :). Concerning 
> Linux compat issue: we are trying to build good stable and secure system, 
> don't we? We would achieve that only using native-compiled binaries. 
> _Only_ in the cases we have no choice, we should use linux-compat, but i 
> think we should avoid it everywhere it's possible.
>
> 4. Configuration.
>
> Important one. Personally, I don't like BSD configuring style -- the SysV 
> way is much more convinient for me. But most of the BSD guys would want to 
> have BSD.
> This is the thing which should be heavily discussed -- we should decide if 
> SysV way is the right way for every Debian OS or not.
> I belive much of the debian-specific tools is based on the configuring 
> style, and we should stay on SysV.
> Btw, what way Hurd uses?
>
>
> So, here is the summary of mine: BSD userland+Natively compiled deb's+SysV.
> Maybe, we can make a kind of polling and once we decide we have enough 
> votes to judge, start working?
> The discussions here may last forever :))
>
> ---
> TIA, Wartan.


Checking the recent postings on the list, they can be summerised as->

What diff groups are interested in...

debian ppl -  bsd kernel

bsd ppl -  maybe debian style packaging but *bsd's moving towards
                improvement and *bsd_ports-collection unification.
           most bsd'ers here suggesting debian participation in
                openpackages unified packaging system.

What diff groups are _not_ interested in...

debian ppl - helping openpackages to get the some of useful functionality
                from dpkg suite doesn't help debian much,
                they also don't get a debian with a *bsd kernel  ;-)
                But unified bsd/debian packaging system can be thaught
                about, but is it in the scope of this list ?

bsd ppl - debian userland on top of bsd kernel
                are they qualitatively diff to warrant one over the other?

          won't accept dpkg as it is, there are efforts to improve pkg_*,
                and would instead like debian participation in that
                project.


As wartan has initiated, We need to,
        * atleast narrow down possible alternatives of such a project
        * and have a seperate technical/emotional :) justification for
                everyone's opinion abt each of those components/points.

Points to discuss can be -:

1. kernel from...
        _Freebsd_   OR   _Net/Openbsd_

2. License issues
        _GPL_   OR   _BSD_

        There seems to be agreement about  -> BSD upstreams stay BSD.
                                              GPL'd upstream stays GPL.


3. Userland
        _gnu_   OR   _bsd_

4. composition  (ref: check eichin's posting)

             i ] debian userspace / libc  / rebuild packages_
        OR  ii ] debian userspace / glibc / port linux packages_
        OR  iii] debian userspace /  _linux emulation_
        OR   iv] bsd userspace    / libc  / repackage  bsd userspace sw_ ??

        OR a combination of 1st and last above...


5. Configuration
        _SysV_   OR   _bsd style_



/prasad gadgil (se-mumbai)

"What you do when you don't have to, determines what you will be when you
 can no longer help it." -Rudyard Kipling