Current state of config tools and graphical installer issue
Hello everyone,
The lack of proper (GUI) config/install tools has been mentioned, and even
though there are some nice ones out there, I have to agree. Proper drop-in
solutions are not available.
The problem appears to be most seem too Toolkit, Desktop, Distribution or
Application centered, and hard to extend. Now, I found out there already has
been great work done to end this. The config4gnu (CFG) [1] project can handle
complete config files on a per setting basis. This allows converting every
single setting during an upgrade even when the file fomat and available
options change. Or if you change between two altenatives, within limits of
course.
The cfg system point of view comes more from the system side. It's about
overcoming the current limitations without limiting choice, and a distrubuted
maintainable solution not only for GUIs. Instead of hardcoding for different
applications, GUIs or distros it incorporates meta-config definitions. Only
universal configuration frontends are toolkit dependent, nothing from CFGs
core is application or even distro specific.
A while ago I bookmarked a message[2] about the issues with graphical
installer and I also read some of you here want to look into it.
I see a significant relation between configuration during install and
afterwards. What has to be configured I think should be done with the same
kind of tool that is also a available afterwards, if one decides to change
somthing later on.
CFG provides support for complex forms or even wizard logics to run through.
And they are provided by the meta-config definitions!
Could anybody here also envision to bring CFG to Debian and figure out how
Debian could benefit from it?
Please check out their website and docs, and post how you think this relates.
This is not something to wait for, rather somthing to start experimenting with
and getting involved with because the project has slowed down lately.
Who else checks it out and wants to collaborate?
Christian
[1] http://freedesktop.org/Main/CFG
[2] Re: Debconf vs. graphical installer
http://lists.debian.org/debian-boot/2003/debian-boot-200307/msg00592.html
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