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  • From: Karsten Behrmann <BearPerson AT gmx.net>
  • To: sm-discuss AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [SM-Discuss] Tempory Cauldron Component Lead Vote
  • Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 01:18:40 +0100

Heya everyone!

So, with the vote underway, I guess I should answer some of the questions
that have come up since my election speech.

The main question is, will we continue with the rather overdesigned and
complicated suite of scripts and installer that I came up with sometime,
or do we rather go with a "minimal" boom-proof method of using the old
ISO, replacing a few files to "update" it, and release it again?

My answer is, we'll do neither. Or, in other words, both ;P

It is clear that our current ISO generation process is too complicated
if it takes, er, currently me to run it properly. I'm working on that,
though. In some time, we should have the scripts dismantled enough that
they will be easy to understand again. We'll borrow a few ideas from
the "use old stuff" principle, but I will try to keep "source files"
seperately in git, apart from the "generated" stuff that makes it a
fully-working iso.
I do not particularly like the idea of "take the old iso and add new
paint", mostly because that sort of process introduces "magic" files
that nobody knows where they came from (/etc/shadow etc) and will
eventually lead to a build-up of "debris" in the iso.

That said, we're working on revamping the last stable iso to include the
latest stable grimoire, so that people have something recent to install
with. I'll call for testers soon when we have a first version worked out.
However, this is intended to just "tide us over" until we can get our
build process worked out properly again.


I didn't only say generation scripts though, I also said installer.
This is where we'll probably make the most significant changes.
People have said our installer "didn't work", was awkward to use for
non-mainstream cases, or that they'd just plain prefer doing things
themselves. Also we've had a bunch of cases where people were surprised
that they had to install software via the command line, because we had
this flashy menu-driven installer babysitting them through the install
process.

I intend to change this. The obvious advantage is that without our current
complicated installer, iso generation becomes simpler, we spend less time
debugging the installer, and people get a more realistic expectation of
what they're going to get when they've installed SMGL.

Mind, I won't leave people hanging. What I (and most other cauldron team
members) have in mind is still a 'guided' installer, but guiding by telling
the users what to do, not by doing it for them. Examples explain best, so
here's one:

--- snip ---
You should now partition your disks. We assume you know about partition
tables, types, and what sort of partitions you want. If you don't, type
'help partitioning' at the command prompt below.

You have the following commands available for partitioning:
parted - powerful program with a lot of features
cfdisk - easy-to-use curses-based tool. Recommended for new users
fdisk - command-line based tool. For power users.
sfdisk - I believe the 's' is for 'sicko'. For _real_ power users ;)

You seem to have the following disks available:
/dev/hda (20 GB)
/dev/sda (120 GB)

Please partition your disks now, type 'next' when you're done.
Example:
cfdisk /dev/hda

root@installer ~#
--- snap ---
(images not to scale. details may change without notice. Does not include
toddler. colors different in print.)

People would be told which config files they need to edit instead of what
we currently have with e.g. the "choose preferred editor" menu item. Again,
this shows them how they'll need to make such adjustments later on. It'll
also make us document our config files better, which is a Good Thing.

I'm open for suggestions though, so if you think this is a horrible idea,
feel free to jump into #sourcemage-cauldron and yell at us, or send me an
email.


I guess that's it for now. I will stick to generated isos in the long run,
instead of "change the old one"; however, I will greatly simplify our
generation process, so everyone should be able to create an iso.
I intend to greatly remodel the installer, from "menu monster that does
things for you" to "bunch of scripts that spew help and double-check that
you have done everything if you want"

If you agree that this is the way we should go, vote for me :)
If you don't, please explain your position to the ML so we can get a
constructive discussion going, and vote for me anyway ;P

Karsten "BearPerson" Behrmann

p.s.:
Even though this is a one-person-vote, you still need to vote. According
to our voting policy, if less than 50% of the lead developers vote, or I
get less than 50% of the votes cast, we end up with no cauldron lead:

# More than 50% of the Lead Developers MUST cast a vote, or the vote is
invalid.
# Votes require a simple majority (greater than 50% of all votes cast)
to pass.
# If no quorom or majority is achieved, and the vote is for a Project or
Component lead, and the incumbent is a valid candidate, they are reelected.
If there is no incumbent or they have not accepted a nomination, the
position becomes vacant.

--
Source Mage GNU/Linux | Karsten Behrmann | freenode IRC network
developer ISO team | | developer and staffer
www.sourcemage.org | BearPerson AT gmx.net | http://freenode.net

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