The GNOME meta-port

[Joe Marcus Clarke]

On Mon, 2003-11-03 at 18:33, Jens Rehsack wrote:
> Joe Marcus Clarke wrote:
> > On Mon, 2003-11-03 at 12:33, Jens Rehsack wrote:
> > 
> > [My soapbox elided]
> > 
> > 
> >>Ok, I can follow you so far, but:
> >>I don't think the only instant-workstation could be a kde one.
> >>Ok, I was slightly advanced to FreeBSD when I decided to install it
> >>on my desktop, but eg. people coming from OS/2 will feel more like
> >>home on a GNOME desktop. So an instant-gnome-workstation and a move
> >>of instant-workstation to instant-kde-workstation is not impossible
> >>(and would make sense, maybe). But it's on another discussion.
> >>
> >>And greg's opinion to what's belonging to a meta-port or not
> >>is very interesting. He didn't update his instant-server, even
> >>squid-2.5 became the STABLE-release.
> >>
> >>What I'm trying to say: meta-ports are fine and great for easy use,
> >>but the users should have the chance to request changes to the
> >>default. In the case of x11/gnome2 they had to ask the gnome
> >>developers, 'cause the defauls came from there. But if it's a
> >>freebsd own meta-port (as instant-workstation is), the freebsd users
> >>should have a chance to request for changes. So, x11/gnome2 and
> >>misc/instant-workstation aren't fair comparable.
> > 
> > I think you'll find it as difficult to convince Greg to modify his
> > meta-port as it would be to convince GNOME ;-).
> 
> That's bad to hear. I thought, FreeBSD's maintainers should be
> progressive people? But several mails I sent to greg must be
> get's lost on the way into sth. like a black hole :-)
> So it seems you're right.

Greg is also a stickler for adherence to email etiquette, plus he has
some good anti-spam measures.  You emails might not actually get to
him.  Every dealing I've had with him has been positive.  He seems very
eager to help on questions@ provided you follow the guidelines.

> 
> But maybe a new meta-port like instant-gnome-workstation isn't
> something greg wouldn't reject (as long he doesn't have to maintain
> it). I'll think about it and send a mail when I think it's grown
> enough (to get instantly told what I've not seen/respected).

I think it would be easy for anyone to create an
instant-workstation-gnome meta-port.  Greg wouldn't really be able to
say anything about it since it's a different port with its own
maintainer.  If I thought my desktop prefs would be interesting to
people, I might create an instant-workstation-marcus.

> 
> >>>My point is that meta-ports are geared more toward newbies.  Advanced
> >>>users can bypass the meta-port, and install only the bits they want. 
> >>>Really advanced users (or admins doing bulk installations) can build
> >>>their own meta-ports to easy the task of reinstallation.
> >>
> >>Maybe a message should be added to such meta-ports which says:
> >>This is a default meta-port which is for generic use only.
> >>If you want to customize your workstation, you should create
> >>your own one by copying this meta-port into
> >>ports/local/your-own-meta-port and modify whatever you want.
> >>
> >>Ok, not in this words, but maybe this could really make sense to
> >>a) avoid future discussions like this (because the submitter
> >>    disn't search for the right words in the archives), and
> >>b) it's just an instruction for users which will become
> >>    more advanced of what to do.
> > 
> > 
> > I like this idea.  Perhaps this is something that should go into the FAQ
> > as well.  Are you volunteering to write something up?
> 
> I don't really understand. Do you mean: me - an absolute unpolite
> guy - should write a port message which guides other nuts like me
> how to customize their meta-ports? And  you want me to write even
> a similar message for the FAQ?

After reading this paragraph, I'm _sure_ you're the guy for the job ;-).

> 
> I can give it a shot - not next few weeks, but at least after I
> did finally test the patches for mga and x-server eric sent to me.

Okay.  If anyone else wants to step up to help, that would be cool, too.

Joe

> 
> Best,
> Jens
-- 
Joe Marcus Clarke
FreeBSD GNOME Team	::	gnome at FreeBSD.org
FreeNode / #freebsd-gnome
http://www.FreeBSD.org/gnome
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