[Voyage-linux] Voyage Custom Distro

[Punky Tse]

I am delighted to see that Andrew and Robert shares the vision with
us.  I then come up with some thought about how a custom distro can be
built.  It can be done by just a utility script.  The script will run
the following in order:

1. chroot to voyage distro directory
2. add your favourite package repostory to sources.list as specified
in your distro profile
3. install and/or remove packages of your favourite
4. run post installation scripts, if any
5. clean up
6. package the custom distro in tarball

The utility will bundle some default distro profiles.  These profile
in my mind are Firewall and NAS.  The user of course can define their
own profile to build their own distro.  Is this the one you really
want?

Punky

On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:31:11 -0500, Robert Haskins
<rhaskins at cnetwork.com> wrote:
> I would echo very strongly what Andrew writes here. The beauty of the
> voyage distro is:
> 
> 1) ability to easily build both distro+kernel
> 2) ability to add needed kernel modules as required
> 3) stability
> 
>  From what I have seen, none of these things are available in any other
> embedded distro I have tried. At least, not done in such a way as to
> make it as easy as voyage.
> 
> I agree that you can't become all things to all people, especially on a
> 128MB CF. That's why I am so adament about needing a sane, working build
> environment that I can use to build just the stuff I need.
> 
> Punky I think you are right on track with the direction of voyage. It
> meets my needs *perfectly*. Keep up the great work!
> 
> Andrew Niemantsverdriet wrote:
> > 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)
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Voyage-linux mailing list
> > Voyage-linux at list.voyage.hk
> > http://list.voyage.hk/mailman/listinfo/voyage-linux
> >
> 
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> 


-- 
-- 
Regards,
Punky
P U N K N ! X  . c o m
Technology + Lifestyle
(http://www.punknix.com) 

Voyage Linux
(http://www.voyage.hk/software/voyage.html)