Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

sm-discuss - Re: [SM-Discuss] svn Gwydion does not build

sm-discuss AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Public SourceMage Discussion List

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Kevin Monceaux <Kevin AT RawFedDogs.net>
  • To: Source Mage Discuss Mailing List <SM-Discuss AT Lists.IBiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [SM-Discuss] svn Gwydion does not build
  • Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:11:24 -0600 (CST)

Ron,

I've been trying to resist the temptation to join in on this interesting thread. But, well, that didn't work, so here it goes ...

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008, ron wrote:

I wanted to avoid the work of learning bash, to understand the way your system scripts work together.

Then it sounds like you want to avoid trying to understand SMGL. SMGL is bash based. If you want to understand the way the SMGL system scripts work together, you want to learn bash.

I was asking why great distros like Source Mage and Gentoo do not make it easier for novices to install, use, and learn about the underlying system and development environment.

There are many Linux distros out there to choose from. Some try to cater to novice users, and some are intended for more advanced users. And I'm glad those choices are available.

Making something easy to use and learn about does not seem to me to be to much to ask.

I would even like to see perl used instead of bash. I can understand that a little better. 

There are many languages I prefer over bash. I wouldn't expect SMGL to change because of that. Now, if I could just find a Clipper or COBOL based distro ... :-)

Why not use an easy to learn, modern, object oriented, scripting language.

If that's what you're looking for there are many distros out there that might fit the bill. Python is a easy to learn, modern, object oriented scripting language. Most of Gentoo's Portage is Python based. The actual ebuilds are bash, though. I think the Conary package management system used by rPath Linux and Foresight Linux is completely Python based, including it's build scripts. I think they're called recipes. I'm sure there are other distros that are using other modern, and not so modern, scripting languages. A Google search for perl based linux distro turned up:

http://perllinux.sourceforge.net/

Which is completely perl based, but the last update was back in 2005. If you like Perl, maybe you could revive the project.

A good instruction manual, not only showing how to work something, but the way it works, is what I appreciate.

Then choose a distro with awesome documentation. Off the top of my head Debian, Gentoo, and FreeBSD if you're willing to try something other than Linux, have lots of great documentation. Debian and FreeBSD score extra points on the documentation front with me because most of their docs are also available in PDF format. Even when viewing docs on screen, I prefer docs that at least look like books. At the moment I'm running FreeBSD myself.

Why do we have to always have to start from scratch?

Why should the SMGL team start from scratch, learn a new language, and rewrite and rewrite everything?



Kevin
http://www.RawFedDogs.net
http://www.WacoAgilityGroup.org
Bruceville, TX

Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes.
Longum iter est per praecepta, breve et efficax per exempla!!!



Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page