Re: How can we gain more flexibility in debian-edu?
Hi,
I agree with Andreas' opinion. I have been trying to use debian-edu, but
I found things are so hard to understand how it works.
Would that be possible to setup debian-edu from pure Debian
installation? I think if there is a document to explain how to setup
debian-edu from pure Debian installation would helps lot and bring more
people really can contribute to this project.
-Andrew
On 2010年08月05日 22:21, Andreas B. Mundt wrote:
> Hi,
>
> being here in New York at DebConf10, I have the pleasure to be
> exposed to many suggestions and ideas concerning Debian and free
> software.
> In a talk titled 'Managing Debian Installations using GOsa and FAI'
> <URL:http://penta.debconf.org/dc10_schedule/events/556.en.html>,
> Michael Banck illustrated his ideas and plans about setting up and
> maintaining a system for academic work groups and the like.
>
> After thinking a bit about the talk, I came to the conclusion that his
> goal is not far away from what skolelinux does. The only difference
> that comes to mind is a different set of user applications and no (or
> another) artwork package.
>
> I talked to him about working together with the debian-edu community,
> as I think both sides could profit a great deal from each other. (And
> I btw. consider a system for academic work groups as domain of
> debian-edu too).
>
> What is needed to make a collaboration possible?
>
> We need to make our system more modularized and flexible. How to do
> that, well, that has still to be figured out. But I think skolelinux
> will profit a lot from a more modularized setup.
>
> To me, the current setup appears to be too complicated and
> specialized, resulting in many 'hacks' which make it unstructured and
> hard to maintain. Perhaps that's the reason why there are only so few
> people around participating in development; it seems like it is only
> possible to either work full time on it or stop at all. Cruft has been
> cumulated over the years, not making it easier to start contributing.
>
> What's the alternative? The alternative is a core system that includes
> all components common to all of these systems: users, groups, machines
> and software management, terminals, kerberos, webserver, printers, etc.
>
> Based on this core system, specializations are possible: Depending on
> the area of use, the packages installed by default will differ. A
> scientific group (debian-science, debian-med) will add their packages
> and tools, skolelinux uses the task lists we have already in place and
> might add school-specific administration tools. Remember the
> discussions on the list about which age we want to support: We could
> provide different lists supporting different ages broadening the user
> base from the kindergarden up to young adults and adult evening
> classes.
>
> Hopefully, by offering more flexibility, the 'forks' and re-inventions
> of skolelinux could be unified again and developers motivated to
> participate also to the core project. By enlarging the field of users,
> the burden of developing would be shared on more shoulders and
> synergies could be used to improve the system and not only 'fix'
> issues.
>
> There might be replies that this will complicate the setup of
> skolelinux, making it impossible for teachers to run it. First, I
> don't know if this will necessarily be the case. Second, I think that
> problems concerning the setup of skolelinux (understood as installing
> from the DVD) are not our problem. A few more questions, perhaps even
> some more actions after installation- this is not what makes schools
> and teachers not to choose skolelinux. I guess most of the people
> having installed the system in the last half year at school started to
> change and modify the installation massively (more or less
> successfully) right after setting it up.
>
> Discussion opened.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Andi
>
>
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