[NTLUG:Discuss] An NTLUG Distro

[Robert Pearson]

On 4/2/09, Chris Cox <cjcox at acm.org> wrote:
> 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.
>


Maybe looking at a project like LFS (Linux From Scratch) might answer
some questions.
<http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=lfs>
<http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/>

LFS Package Management is all source.
Not much help here but interesting for custom kernel people.
<http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/development/chapter06/pkgmgt.html>

There was a Unix from scratch at one time.
<http://blogs.sun.com/eric_boutilier/entry/unix_from_scratch_table_of>
It's been inactive since 2005.

How about a "Twitter/MythTV/MythBox" friendly distro?
This would use twitter for package management and what database?
Combined traditional OS package with multimedia packages (audio and
video) and IM.