[RULE] Spreadsheet/DB of the SW, part 2

[Martin Stricker]

"M. Fioretti" wrote:
> 
> On Wed, Feb 26, 2003 09:42:18 at 09:42:18AM -0800, Eugene Wong
>  disposable_eugene at hotmail.com  wrote:

> > >In the second place, the script using the db/spreadsheet can be
> > >run automatically *after* the install: you install the very base
> > >packages, then (automatically) reboot and run that script with
> > >full availability of wget, Perl, ssh, whatever. As long as it can
> > >be automated, and takes almost the same total time, what
> > >difference does it make?
> >
> > I am very much in favour of rebooting. This type of a philosophy
> > allows us to upgrade much more easily, without having to re-enter
> > information. Right now, I am trying to create some install scripts
> > that can be used long after the install.
> >
> Looks like we are all converging on this, doesn't it? (see also
> Colin's thread)

Well, not completely... ;-)) I still see a scenario where a reboot is
not desired: Imagine someone (like a student) who wants Linux installed
on his computer, but hasn't any network. He goes to an install party or
university, there a network card is plugged in, the computer gets
everything installed, the network card is removed and everything works.
BTW this is exactly the scenario this very computer here got it's first
Linux (Red Hat 4 IIRC) six years ago. Back then I had internet access at
university, and private internet access was *expensive*, so I didn't see
any need for network, so I didn't want it installed, I needed the space.
I think this scenario still is valid in some countries.

I don't say that very elaborate install options should be part of the
Slinky installer, but please leave the basic network install
capabilities in! Maybe these more elaborated installers can be loaded
from the RULE homepage or another disk, so they don't clutter the basic
installer disk?

> > Perhaps what I am really looking for is a general menu of
> > functionality,
> I love this. The database, or whatever else, should ask: do you need
> IMAP email (not do you want Kmail or mutt) Do you need Javascript
> support (not : do you need mozilla or links) I've been saying this
> for years.

Agreed absolutely! Only this way a "normal" user is able to decide which
packages s/he will need.

Best regards,
Martin Stricker
-- 
Homepage: http://www.martin-stricker.de/
Linux Migration Project: http://www.linux-migration.org/
Red Hat Linux 7.3 for low memory: http://www.rule-project.org/
Registered Linux user #210635: http://counter.li.org/


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