Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development
From: imurdock@shell.portal.com (Ian A Murdock)
Subject: New release under development; suggestions requested
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Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 13:05:37 GMT
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Fellow Linuxers,
This is just to announce the imminent completion of a brand-new Linux
release, which I'm calling the Debian Linux Release. This is a release
that I have put together basically from scratch; in other words, I
didn't simply make some changes to SLS and call it a new release. I
was inspired to put together this release after running SLS and
generally being dissatisfied with much of it, and after much altering of
SLS I decided that it would be easier to start from scratch. The base
system is now virtually complete (though I'm still looking around to
make sure that I grabbed the most recent sources for everything), and
I'd like to get some feedback before I add the "fancy" stuff.
Please note that this release is not yet completed and may not be for
several more weeks; however, I thought I'd post now to perhaps draw a
few people out of the woodwork. Specifically, I'm looking for:
1) someone who will eventually be willing to allow me to upload the
release to their anonymous ftp-site. Please contact me. Be warned that
it will be rather large :)
2) comments, suggestions, advice, etc. from the Linux community. This
is your chance to suggest specific packages, series, or anything you'd
like to see part of the final release.
Don't assume that because a package is in SLS that it will necessarily
be included in the Debian release! Things like ls and cat are a given,
but if there's anything that's in SLS that you couldn't live without
please let me know!
I'd also like suggestions for specific features for the release. For
example, a friend of mine here suggested that undesired packages should
be selected BEFORE the installation procedure begins so the installer
doesn't have to babysit the installation. Suggestions along that line
are also welcomed.
What will make this release better than SLS? This:
1) Debian will be sleeker and slimmer. No more multiple binaries and
manpages.
2) Debian will contain the most up-to-date of everything. The system
will be easy to keep up-to-date with a 'upgrading' script in the base
system which will allow complete integration of upgrade packages.
3) Debian will contain a installation procedure that doesn't need to
be babysat; simply install the basedisk, copy the distribution disks to
the harddrive, answer some question about what packages you want or
don't want installed, and let the machine install the release while you
do more interesting things.
4) Debian will contain a system setup procedure that will attempt to
setup and configure everything from fstab to Xconfig.
5) Debian will contain a menu system that WORKS... menu-driven package
installation and upgrading utility, menu-driven system setup,
menu-driven help system, and menu-driven system administration.
6) Debian will make Linux easier for users who don't have access to the
Internet. Currently, users are stuck with whatever comes with SLS.
Non-Internet users will have the option of receiving periodic upgrade
packages to apply to their system. They will also have the option of
selecting from a huge library of additional packages that will not be
included in the base system. This library will contain packages like
the S3 X-server, nethack and Seyon; basically packages that you and I
can ftp but non-netters cannot access.
7) Debian will be extensively documented (more than just a few
READMEs).
8) As I put together Debian, I am keeping a meticulous record of where I
got everything. This will allow the end-user to not only know where to
get the source, but whether or not the most recent version is a part of
Debian. This record will help to keep the Debian release as up-to-date
as possible.
9) Lots more, but I'll detail later...
Anyway, I'll provide more specifics in a week or so after I receive
enough replies.
Please, all replies by mail. I'll post a followup. If you wish to
discuss this in the newsgroup, please don't turn it into a flamewar. :)
Until later,
Ian
--
Ian Murdock Internet: imurdock@shell.portal.com
The Linux Warehouse
Please mail me for more information on the status of the Debian Linux Release.