[NTLUG:Discuss] An NTLUG Distro

[Chris Cox]

On Thu, 2009-04-02 at 10:17 -0500, Daniel Hauck wrote:
> I just read some commentary regarding criticism and Linux.  The original
> notion was that Linux needs more critics to keep it moving.  Another
> person pointed out that the reason there are so many very different
> Linux distros out there is because it is essentially "criticism applied."
> 
> This got me to thinking.  Chris Cox is unquestionably a really smart
> fellow with strong views on various things.  I wouldn't think to suggest
> this if I didn't think he was smart enough to pull it off.

I'm not that "smart".  It's (Linux) just more a part of my life than for
most.  I have thought about a distro project.

My idea is a character based distro.  I want to go back to some of
Unix's roots and develop better tools that can be used to build
better tools... and eventually including a graphical desktop.

What does that entail?  Well, unfortunately, it's a radical project...
not an evolutionary one.  GNU FSF tools are great, but NOT well
designed.  Shoot, there are even parts of the kernel that frustrate
me, but I'm NOT a kernel expert.

I want to make something more uniform... yet still VERY Unix
(but not necessarily messed up Linux) compatible.  Having 3,000
command line switches is cute, but not when they don't make
any sense.  I would preserve what is mostly portable and
extend with frameworks that are easily extended and used to
make bigger and better tools.

It sounds complicated, but it's really not that much.
Sure... things might not get designed ideally the first
time, but with a little foundation, what does get created
could be changed without too much trouble.

Well... my vision, might not be what most people want (which
is something that can be done quickly)... it's just a vision,
might be too much... not sure.


> 
> What about an NTLUG Distro project?  It would naturally be more of an
> exercise than something we could expect to actually catch on in the
> wild.  But not only could it be used as a vehicle to express critical
> views of other distros by addressing them, but could also serve as an
> educational experience in rolling one's own distro.

I think a NTLUG group project would be fun... just need somebody
(besides Chris and his crazy difficult vision) to lead.