[indiana-discuss] A different take

[Dennis Clarke]

> So, all of the current discussions notwithstanding, let's think
> about a different approach to Indiana (or call it Ohio, or
> Illinois--whatever).

I had already called it gazelle and chinkara here on my desk.

   http://www.blastwave.org/gazelle/test.html

    gazelle : a software repository.  Where all the SUNWfoo and CSWfoo
              and other SVR4 based pkgs reside at the moment.

   chinkara : the actual bootable ISO file which has GRUB2
              as well as some small mini-root based OS
              with a tool ( pkg-get ) that drags down pkgs
              from the gazelle site.

 That has had me busy for a little while as I work on GRUB2.

> Consider that we're really trying to build
> a base for others to take and leverage, and we've clearly demonstrated
> that everything is subject to a religious war,

 I avoided the war and simply started building.  :-)

> let's regard it differently.

> Any distribution could take Indiana, in some form,
> and arbitrarily build on it to have an OpenSolaris distribution
> that meets specific needs.

  At the very least a prototype.

> Indiana Core could be the absolute minimal functional system.
> It would be a subset of ON plus a subset of Install--the bits
> required to successfully boot to a console/text interface and to
> upgrade the system from there.

 We agree exactly.

 Then add X later along with a small GUI based installer and a menu like in
a restaurant where one chooses the category of packages one wants
installed; workstation, apache, database etc etc.

> In Solaris terms, this would likely
> define the list of packages that constitutes a minimal supported
> system, plus a core set of drivers.

  I was thinking of basic, very basic functionality; shell, tcpip, name
resolution plus the ability to fdisk/format local disks and then drag down
more software.

> Indiana Basic could be Indiana Core, plus the rest of ON,
> plus more of Install, plus X, plus some reasonably friendly WM/Desktop
> setup. Basically, a minimal usable system, to let someone
> bootstrap themselves into their happy place. (E.g.,
> # indiana-get -repository=gnu-bleeding-edge update-all or the
> GUI equivalent)

  Once again, you have read my mind.

> With these pieces, a distro builder could start with Core and add
> pieces, or, if appropriate, start with Basic and add to it. Someone
> looking to embed OpenSolaris into an appliance would likely just
> use with Core. Someone interested in a single-function, easily
> controllable device (like a VMware-type appliance) might use
> Basic.

  Sounds good thus far.

> I've been talking with a couple of engineers about what Dave Miner
> termed a "distribution constructor", which could be a toolset to help
> anyone take the Core/Basic pieces and add components as needed,
> then easily end up with a functional set of bits that actually could
> be installed and used. It's something that we're really serious
> about at least investigating, and current plans include staffing/
> funding for it. (Yes, it'd be open.)

  I wasn't waiting.  I already have 1687 software package in the CSW
catalog at Blastwave ( lots of duplication with Solaris ) plus a pile
of packages from snv_64a all going into one catalog with md5 sigs etc.

  I held my first con-call meeting with a select group of engineers two
weeks ago and we began to hammer out who will do what for a first pass
prototype.  I am on the GRUB2 bootloader and bootable bits.  Someone
else is working on package intelligence. That handles the dependency
tree based on the extensive skills we picked up with five years of CSW
packages at Blastwave. Someone else is working on a smart usage of fdisk
and format tools. etc etc etc ....

  I figure a prototype should take 30 to 60 days but there are
  costs of course.

> An approach like this is starting to make sense to me because it's
> clear that we cannot meet everyone's needs, and the next best
> thing is to provide the tools to EASILY allow OpenSolaris distros
> to meet those various needs. A side effect, of course, is that
> various distros based off the same Core are very likely to be
> compatible with each other, modulo various package dependencies.
>
> Thoughts?

  I *think* we have done a lot of talking for two years.

  Since Blastwave is pushing software into India and China now I wanted
  to ride that with gazelle and chinkara.

  I also just want to be heads down on a keyboard and hammer out a
  functional prototype that can be mirrored and extended.

Dennis Clarke
http://www.blastwave.org