[openbeos] Distribution Suggestions

Hi all,

I have been doing some more thinking about OBOS distributions, and after a 
chat on IRC, I though I would post a few methods of getting out of the Linux 
mess I honestly think we are heading :)

1) Practically Fool Proof Way

How about if OBOS made a core distro, with none but the basic apps, basically 
exactly like Be, Inc's BeOS Rx's.  This is distributed as an ISO/CD, and can 
not be altered for supported configurations.

Distributors then provide additional ISO's or installers for their part. This 
way, purists can choose to use pure OBOS, and others can use what they want.

Solves the problem of support, and commercial development - they simply target 
the core ISO.

2) Nearly Fool Proof Way

Again, we make the core OS/ISO, the basic installer has groups like on the 
original BeOS installer, such as Developer Tools, OS, Sample Apps [whatever] 
and the distributors add new groups.

The new groups must not interfere in any way with the core groups, they must 
not replace any components. Again, purists need not install anything but the 
core groups, and perhaps OBOS.org can offer a "core" install download.

Again, solves the problem of support, and commercial development - they simply 
target the core ISO.

3) Extreme Way

We ditch the distro idea, and just make a OBOS.org distro.

Solves the problem of support, and commercial development - they simply target 
this.

Future releases, we add things to the core distro that major developers 
suggest based on some sort of voting system by the users. ie. Software Vendor 
X really wants thislib included in the core, and we have also had 8 other 
requests for, we put it up for R1.1, if users object and have a *very* valid 
reason, we don't put it in - or something similar....

An example of why its important to sort this out was raised on IRC the other 
day. Lets say we reach R1 - fantastic!!! We then get 2 people making OBOS 
distro's one manages to use gcc 3.1(even worse/better ICC)  to compile 
theres, and there is an equal number of people using the normal gcc 2.9 
build, and the gcc 3.1 build.... who do software vendors support?

Just a few ideas

Andrew

I do *not* want to be making an OS where distributing source code to a program 
is the only way of ensuring that that all users can use it....

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