[Voyage-linux] Voyage Custom Distro

[Andrew Niemantsverdriet]

Hi,
> Maybe a good thing in voyage 0.2 would be to provide many packages for
> users
> to customize their distribution depending on their needs and available
> space
> after a basic install (different kernels, http server, php, ppp,
> quagga,
> etc...) and thus having a lighter and customised voyage. Everyone
> could make
> and share packages compiled for specific platforms. What do you think
> about
> this?
> 
> Francois.

I was actually thinking this same thing. It is impossible to make a
distro like voyage all things to everyone. One reason is the amount of
space available on a typical flash card is limited.

What I would like to see is voyage do a minimal install by default. Have
it only install what is necessary to provide complete functionality on a
wrap board. Complete to me means it will boot and give you a shell and
you will have some basic programs (apt comes to mind). The kernel will
have to be customized to work well with wrap boards and a basic text
editor (vi or the like) should be included in the initial install. 

Next you have the package manager so use it. I am pretty new to Debian I
have used Redhat for a long time but the one thing that is amazing about
Debian is the power of apt. So once that basic system is up individual
uses can connect it to the internet and apt-get install all the programs
they need. What this will provide to end users is an easy way to
customize the wrap to their liking without having excess program fat. 

Also it provides an easy way to contribute to the community. Say a user
needs a non-standard application for voyage; so they compile their own
package and announce that they have such and such package here is the
repository address to add to your apt sources.list to obtain it if you
want it.

Lastly what I would like to see and I would even volunteer to do it, is
kinda a roll your own voyage document. That users could have there own
customized Voyage image to install on as many wrap boards as they have
without having to go through and apt-get every package for every one.

This is just what I think would be ideal, that way Voyage can really be
all things to everyone. I would love to hear feedback, positive or
negative and if Punky thinks I am way off base I would like to know that
as well.

Thanks,

 _
/-\ ndrew
(Sorry for the book of the email)