Public SourceMage Discussion List

[Jamie Tomlinson <jamie.tomlinson AT verizon.net>]

On Friday 12 May 2006 16:50, Andraž "ruskie" Levstik wrote:

> OK since this is heading nowhere with lightspeed I'm requesting

> some comments on this issue.

>

> Basicaly I'd like to see a FULL sample init.d metadata file

> with EVERYTHING an init script might ever need.

>

> By FULL I mean with all the possible functions defined and so on.

>

> Once we have a file work can acctually start on how to implement

> frontends and backends for it all.

>

> Relevant links:

> Specification: http://wiki.sourcemage.org/InitMetadata

> Possible targets: http://wiki.sourcemage.org/InitMetadata/InitSystems

This I would love to see, for several reasons:

1.) A standardized place to put things instead of scattered through /etc

It is sometimes a snipe hunt trying to go through and find where an initiating file is located. Is it in init.d? rc.d? sysconfig? It give a somewhat "thrown together" feeling. Once things are organized it allows for point #2.

2.) The ability to effect a change through GUI tools

Most people who currently use linux are quite comfortable using the shell to make changes to their configuration files, but most people who currently use linux are, well... geeks! :) The more simple you make things, the more people you are going to get to use it. e.g.: My wife LOVES the fact that if I want to add a piece of software, its simply "cast <program>" and its off and running. The work you have all put into the distribution takes care of all the dependencies and making sure they are installed. Not even Microsoft can boast that ability.

I, for one, would love to see this distribution expand, and to be quite honest, the simpler that you make it, the more people you will have use it. (look at the rapid growth of redhat, suse and debian as an example). I have seen the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle quoted many times throughout the sourcemage lists. Standardizing the init files and having a GUI to change system settings would go a long way towards invoking that principle, perhaps not to the current users and developers ;), but for the expansion of the existing user base.

Just my $.02

Jamie "Rennus" Tomlinson

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