[pocket-linux] Some direction for System Architecture Project

[David Horton]

Here is the direction I am thinking of going with the System 
Architecture project:


First, as a starting point I would like to create shell scripts to 
automatically build all of the source packages used in Pocket Linux.

These scripts would be similar to the package "recipes" I have at: 
http://my.core.com/~dhorton/linux/recipes/, but they would need refining 
and updating.

I think this would be a good place to start since we're all familiar 
with the packages being used and how to configure them.

I hope that by standardizing the way packages are built we can develop a 
library of recipe scripts that people can use for their own projects.  I 
would also like to see people be able to contribute recipe scripts.  For 
example if you decide to have a system that includes a vi editor, you 
can write a recipe for it and share it with the group.  Hopefully by 
using GNU's Savannah site we can share easily.

***

Next, I would like to be able to figure out a way to take these 
compiled, binary packages and install them onto various types of media.

Media could be floppy, CD-R, hard drive, Zip drive, USB keychain drive, 
ROM chip, SMB share or whatever Linux supports.  The only trick with the 
different media would be getting the system to boot.  Otherwise all of 
the packages used are basically the same; bash, coreutils, sysvinit, etc.

I'm pretty confident that I can do hard drive, zip drive and floppy, but 
I would definitely look to other people to help with other kinds of 
media.  I know there has already been interest in CD-R and USB keychain.

***

Finally, I would like to start developing recipes for entire systems. 
Maybe not shell scripts in this case, but at least a list of packages or 
"ingredients" that are needed to build a particular system.

For example to build a rescue diskset you would probably want bash, 
coreutils, e2fsprogs, and util-linux packages among others.  To build a 
diskette-sized text editor you could skip e2fsprogs and util-linux, but 
add ncurses and vi.

Rather than being locked into a one-size-fits-all situation, the systems 
could be anything that anyone would like to pursue.  Some people have 
expressed an interest in X-windows, other people like console-based. 
Personally I have an interest in network-appliance type systems.

I don't want to force people to adopt any one vision of what the best 
system is.  I would rather provide tools to build any system imaginable. 
  Then hopefully everyone can build their own dream system, and by 
writing a recipe, help others understand the system and how it's put 
together.

***

So, if you have read this far, what do you think?

Dave