Re: Debian as a social group and how to develop it better
[Please stop to overzealous crosspost to several un-related lists.
Xavian-Anderson Macpherson wrote:
> X-A+M: I would define "Empowering Leadership" as USER's RULE!! What are the
> goals of Debian as they relate to the world community of computer users? Are
The goal is written on <http://www.debian.org/>:
[41]Debian is a [42]free operating system (OS) for your
computer. An operating system is the set of basic programs and
utilities that make your computer run. Debian uses the [43]Linux
kernel (the core of an operating system), but most of the basic OS
tools come from the [44]GNU project; hence the name GNU/Linux.
Debian GNU/Linux provides more than a pure OS: it comes with more
than 8710 [45]packages, precompiled software bundled up in a nice
format for easy installation on your machine.
> you wanting to remain just a step above the 'hobbyist notion' of Slackware,
> or do you truly want to reach as many users as is possible? I have seen an
> article (on a Debian main page) on how to use Knoppix to provide an easier
> (GUI) method of installation for Debian. My question is, why should I want
> to use Debian, if I am clearly being told by Debian the system is so hard to
> install. I geuss this goes back to my question about distibution (in terms
> of population).
You aren't told that Debian is difficult to install. In fact, in
several cases it's even easier to install than SuSE Linux.
Apart from that, you only install a Debian system once for each
computer. After that you only work with the system and/or upgrade
it. With other systems, upgrade equals to re-install, which is not
compatible with our idea of how an operating system should behave.
> If someone else can build an easier method of installation (based on Debian no
There will always be easier ways to achieve foo for limited fields of
endeavour. Knoppix, for example, does not install on my sparc of
parisc boxes. The Debian boot-floppies, however, install on all
boxes, with the same tui and the same handling. That makes
installations very easy.
> less), why is it not included in Debian as the standard, if the 'standard' is
Make Knoppix work the same on 11+ architectures, then propose it
again. Before that, you're not serious and hence can't be taken
serious by the Debian project.
> not to be interpreted as 'for hobbyists only'? I mean, even the install
> system of FreeBSD is decent, in that you can choose packages from the web,
> using just two floppies. Why can't you develope an installation system that
> downloads a wonderful GUI from the web (or from cd), that provides all of the
> features of let's say YaST from SuSE. I think the only requirement should be
If you want to use YaST, go and use it. Don't accuse Debian for not
using it, but use the system you like better.
Oh, and by the way, you're free to join debian-boot@lists.debian.org
and help implementing whatever you want for the new debian-installer.
This is no cynicism, help is required.
> the prior creation of a swap partition, on which everything (package names
> and configuration files) can be temporarily loaded, until the installation is
> fully committed to. This way, there would be no need for separate cd's for
> xfs (as with mine) or other system features that must be chosen before
> installation. The only drivers you would need to provide would be network
> controllers. Why not use KDE's control panel for installation, or even
> webmin (as is used by MSC Linux, and very nice!) This way, whatever
> installation tool that was used first, will have been already taught to all
> new users from the beginnig, eliminating any possibility of subsequent
> confusion.
And put everything on two single floppies.
I wonder who's on drugs here...
Regards,
Joey
--
All language designers are arrogant. Goes with the territory...
-- Larry Wall
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