Public SourceMage Discussion List

[Jaanus Heeringson <jaanus AT heeringson.com>]

Eric Schabell wrote:

> On Mon, Apr 26, 2004 at 01:34:05AM +0200, Jaanus Heeringson wrote:
>  
>
> > So I'm at it again, burning the midnight oil.
> >
> > I have recently read a lot of different articles about Linux in general 
> > to try and get a grip on the "feel" out there, and this is some things i 
> > found out:
> >
> >    
> I have been around since before SMGL existed, so will try to say a few
> things inbetween here and you can take them for what you think they are
> worth:
>
>  
>
> > 3. A lot of the intermediate users are very tired of choise. They simply 
> > don't want to research at every corner to install the appropriate stuff 
> > (which MTA, DNS etc) and are asking for a "preferred setup". This maby 
> > don't concern us yet, but it might in the future.
> >
> >    
> A basic right we have always tried to keep in Source Mage is that it is
> about choice. Whenever we were confronted with a point in development
> (spell creation, sorcery defaults) we tried to make the choice be set by
> the admin installing our distro. Of course we have some profile spells,
> but they are minimal and I hope they stay that way.
>
>  
>
> > My gut feeling is that in order to get some attention we will have to 
> > compete with Gentoo to get it, and since they actually are a for profit 
> > company, it will be quite a task. In my opinion we need to find a couple 
> > of point on how we differentiate us from Gentoo in a good way.
> >
> >    
> We have never been interested in topping Gentoo (at least I never saw
> that as a mission statement while I was PL)... I would rather aim our
> distro as far away from their targets, ideas and behavioural pattern as
> possible. 
>  
What I was referring to is that we have to compete with them over 
attention within the narrow niche that sourcebased distros have cut out 
for themselves, not that we try to emulate them or their ways.

> This does not mean we can't do this marketing push, but I hope that
> there will be much thought given to what we really are about (shame to
> lose our identity if you ask me). I realize that this is what you are
> now attempting to do, I just see the focus being a bit too much with
> Gentoo and not enough on what we are about.
I am mentioning Gentoo because we will be compared with them every time. 
This is where we need to inform the potential users of the differences, 
and it would be good prepare for it. Another reason is that it is much 
easier do find the unique qualities of something (SMGL) if you can 
compare with someting else (Gentoo).

> I don't mean any sort of flame about your work, it is definatly a start.
> You made me think and respond so that is good! ;-) I may also be alone
> or in the minority with my opinions, but I toss them out there for
> discussion and as input into your process. 
Flame? Naa, my skin is made of asbestos with an outer layer of teflon :)

This actually made me think in another direction. Since we are 
source-based I just took the ball and ran from there, but maby there are 
other, more important values toSMGL? Being source-based is actually only 
a method of acheiving a goal, not a goal in itself. We could find some 
other point of focus, and just accept source-based as a method. So what 
are the goals?

If source-based was our goal, we would have fulfilled it by now, so what 
more is there? Is it about having the best management system? Delivering 
the most choise? The most stable or bug-free? Is it all about having fun?

Choise, as you so kindly pointed out is definetly one, but there must be 
more? For my sake it's speed and the ability to optimize. Please add 
your arguments!

> Carry on and I watch here from the sidelines with eager eyes,
>
> erics
>  
>
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--
MVH

Jaanus Heeringson

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