Re: Debian, too easy?

[Russell <rjshaw@iprimus.com.au>]

Gregory Seidman wrote:
> 
> Paul Johnson sez:
> } On Thu, Oct 24, 2002 at 06:18:52AM -0400, Gregory Seidman wrote:
> } > configs files alone (e.g. Slackware) or layer it away so thoroughly that
> } > changing something in a config file may or may not be sufficient to
> } > change the behavior (e.g. RedHat). Debian is a nice middle ground.
> }
> } Compounding this, I've heard rumors that RH is going to borrow a
> } brain-damaged idea from Microsoft:  The system registry.
> 
> The idea of the system registry is not brain-damaged, just Microsoft's
> implementation and policies. MacOS X uses something a lot like a system
> registry (combination of NetInfo and various preferences files), which
> is almost a good implementation (preferences and NetInfo should have
> better integration, and apps should have a way of publishing what they
> care about). The Xt app-defaults system is also reminiscent of a
> registry system, though it is rather domain-specific (just GUI apps).
> 
> A system registry is about having a unified concept of configuration and
> preferences. In general, it is a good thing. I look forward to a solid
> implementation thereof. I'm betting on Apple doing it first.

IMHO, a registry would be ok if it was ascii/human readable, you could
tell applications to ignore it, and no applications are forced or required
to know about it. A set of utilities for examining and manipulating it
would be useful too.