Public SourceMage Discussion List

[Kevin Monceaux <Kevin AT RawFedDogs.net>]

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!!!