[install-discuss] [PROJECT PROPOSAL] pkg - Image Packaging System

[Sarah Jelinek]

My vote is a +1 on this proposal.

sarah
*****

Stephen Hahn wrote:
>    I would ask that the Install CG and its various contributors consider
>    sponsoring the following project.  We have a functioning prototype
>    (but we're not complete on all critical features), so we believe that
>    there's an opportunity to explore a different combination of design
>    choices around software packaging, and that this effort would be of
>    interest to the participants of this community group.
>
>    Thanks
>    Stephen
>
> ----
>
> pkg
> Image Packaging System
>
> Sponsored by the Installation and Packaging CG
>
> Stephen Hahn (sch), Danek Duvall (dduvall), Bart Smaalders (barts),
>   Johansen (johansen), David Comay (comay)
>
> This project seeks to develop a software packaging system that is able
> to update, in a safe and predictable fashion, a variety of software
> components across a range of system install contexts.  The image
> packaging system is intended to solve a collection of software
> update-related problems, as outlined in [1 - 5].
>
> The project hopes to be a candidate in the Indiana effort to build an
> OpenSolaris-based distribution.  The project coordinates with the Caiman
> project to produce a new installer architecture for use in OpenSolaris
> distributions; the project expects to work with the System V Packaging
> Project to amend the latter's software to be more compatible on a system
> using image packaging.  Coordination with the Zones CG and other
> interested projects and CGs is also anticipated.
>
> At present, the project has completed an initial sanity test of its
> prototype--installation into a whole root zone--and is ready to invite
> others to participate in development.
>
> References
>
> 1.  S. Hahn, "Observations on packaging", 2007.
>     http://blogs.sun.com/sch/entry/observations_on_packaging
>
> 2.  B. Smaalders, "Rethinking Patching", 2007.
>     http://blogs.sun.com/barts/entry/rethinking_patching
>
> 3.  S. Hahn, "pkg(1): No more installer magic", 2007.
>     http://blogs.sun.com/sch/entry/pkg_no_more_installer_magic
>
> 4.  S. Hahn, "pkg(1): Leaving the build system "out"", 2007.
>     http://blogs.sun.com/sch/entry/pkg_leaving_the_build_system
>
> 5.  S. Hahn, "pkg(1): a no scripting zone", 2007.
>     http://blogs.sun.com/sch/entry/pkg_1_a_no_scripting
>
>