[Neowin Linux] Existing Distro or LFS?

[Fred Derf Veteran]

I personally believe that we should use an existing distro get started. I think we should concentrate on Neowin integration and get a 0.1 product out the door. I'd like to spend some time on themes, on widgets that link to forum posts, news and blogs and on other ideas that we can come up with.

Now I don't mind making bigger and better plans for future releases but I think the 0.1 release should be achievable. A lot of projects like this never get finished otherwise.

n.b. LFS=Linux from Scratch

[Kreuger]

I voted existing. I think it might be easier to remaster a distro

[Mike]

lfs damnit, why bother ripping off another distro? if we are going to make a neowin distro it should have the file layout WE want, the package format WE want, the graphics/design WE want. If we ripoff an existing distro we lose the ability to choose the layout we want and the package format we want and it'll just be another waste of space eye-candy change to an existing distro

[Keito]

lfs damnit, why bother ripping off another distro? if we are going to make a neowin distro it should have the file layout WE want, the package format WE want, the graphics/design WE want. If we ripoff an existing distro we lose the ability to choose the layout we want and the package format we want and it'll just be another waste of space eye-candy change to an existing distro

I have to agree on that.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Use an existing distro. There is no sane reason to complain about file layout or graphics design. These things can be done with an existing distro.

As for package managment.... :ermm: I am pretty sure that no one here wants to take on creating a new package manager, then maintaining it daily, and hosting the files. Only to have it specific to this tiny distro. :no:

The sane choice is to leverage an existing distro, and make a convenient setup for it. :yes:

[Bobster]

I vote existing.(Y)

[The Laughing Man]

Existing, would just be alot easier that way, im curious too on the package manager. Im very interested in this.

[Shane Pitman]

Use an existing distro. There is no sane reason to complain about file layout or graphics design. These things can be done with an existing distro.

As for package managment.... :ermm: I am pretty sure that no one here wants to take on creating a new package manager, then maintaining it daily, and hosting the files. Only to have it specific to this tiny distro. :no:

The sane choice is to leverage an existing distro, and make a convenient setup for it. :yes:

I agree. I'd dare say that those who vote LFS don't understand just how monumental a task that is especially if talking about creating a new package manager and all that goes along with it.

[wildworld_ammsa]

existing distro!

[Mike]

I agree. I'd dare say that those who vote LFS don't understand just how monumental a task that is especially if talking about creating a new package manager and all that goes along with it.

or maybe they don't want to make a version of an existing distro as seems pointless?

out of curiosity, will you be helping with the 'distro'/version of <insert distro name here>?

[Mouldy Punk]

I voted for LFS simply because I think it's about time something really unique came out of the linux scene. It's all the same stuff really at the moment in the desktop area of linux. I know it will be considerably more time consuming to make a LFS distro, but I think it'll be worth it.

[tiagosilva29]

I voted for the use of an existing distribution, but some of the reasons to use LFS sounded valid to me.

[mitch00]

I voted LFS, but only because I don't want to see another Debian ripoff, as that's more than likely going to be the base otherwise.

[Tek]

If all you want to do is have a distro with your name attached to it, then it's fine to repackage somebody elses. I thought you were talking about creating a new distro. Go LFS.

I agree. I'd dare say that those who vote LFS don't understand just how monumental a task that is especially if talking about creating a new package manager and all that goes along with it.

I've built LFS 4 times, and I've also offered to write the package manager. Creating your own distro is a monumental task. Nobody denies this. (Except those who don't know what they're talking about.) If you can't build an entire system from the source, how the hell are you expected to be able to create your own distro?

[nixr]

Use an existing distro. There is no sane reason to complain about file layout or graphics design. These things can be done with an existing distro.

As for package managment.... :ermm: I am pretty sure that no one here wants to take on creating a new package manager, then maintaining it daily, and hosting the files. Only to have it specific to this tiny distro. :no:

The sane choice is to leverage an existing distro, and make a convenient setup for it. :yes:

Great point

[MrA]

I vote existing. At least near the begininng. Maybe later on, a new package manager could be designed. Making a package manager wouldn't be the worst part. Maintaining thousands of packages for such a small distro would be. It's not worth it, at least for now.

PS. If this is reallying gonna go though (Neowin Linux), maybe it would be good idea to create a sub-forum.

[Daylene]

Existing distro for sure. If we used LFS it would take us a long time, and we'd get hardly any results. I can see the project dieing after about a month if you use LFS.

[Tek]

Use an existing distro. There is no sane reason to complain about file layout or graphics design. These things can be done with an existing distro.

As for package managment.... :ermm: I am pretty sure that no one here wants to take on creating a new package manager, then maintaining it daily, and hosting the files. Only to have it specific to this tiny distro. :no:

Anybody who is serious about CREATING THEIR OWN DISTRO is willing to do these things. I've lost count of the amount of times I've offered to create the package manager (go on, tell me I can't). I know there are people who would be willing to assist with package creation. (Back me up devster.) These are the people who understand what it is to create a distro, all the others merely want somebody else's repackaged with their name on it.

[CaKeY]

Anybody who is serious about CREATING THEIR OWN DISTRO is willing to do these things. I've lost count of the amount of times I've offered to create the package manager (go on, tell me I can't). I know there are people who would be willing to assist with package creation. (Back me up devster.) These are the people who understand what it is to create a distro, all the others merely want somebody else's repackaged with their name on it.

I guess too many of us are looking at this as more of a hobby not a full-time job. My vote would be to start with a small distro such as DSL or Puppy which include tools helpful for remastering the iso. If after fiddling with that for a few months we feel confident and enthusiastic about starting from scratch then we can give it a try, or perhaps Tek, Dev and whoever else wants to can branch out.

[Tek]

I guess too many of us are looking at this as more of a hobby not a full-time job. My vote would be to start with a small distro such as DSL or Puppy which include tools helpful for remastering the iso. If after fiddling with that for a few months we feel confident and enthusiastic about starting from scratch then we can give it a try, or perhaps Tek, Dev and whoever else wants to can branch out.

It doesn't make sense to build on something and then start from scratch. You start from scratch and build someting.

[Mike]

Anybody who is serious about CREATING THEIR OWN DISTRO is willing to do these things. I've lost count of the amount of times I've offered to create the package manager (go on, tell me I can't). I know there are people who would be willing to assist with package creation. (Back me up devster.) These are the people who understand what it is to create a distro, all the others merely want somebody else's repackaged with their name on it.

indeed i will back you up, you and me have both offered to take care of the package manager side of things, if neowin is to make its own distro, it has to start from scratch otherwise its just making skins for kde/gnome or whatever desktop environment it chooses

[fels]

Okay, so building a package manager is covered (I'll put my faith in you two), but what about hosting the repository and files?

[Tek]

Okay, so building a package manager is covered (I'll put my faith in you two), but what about hosting the repository and files?

sourceforge? planetmirror? mirror.ac.uk? about 50 other mirror places? You don't need to worry about that.

[mehul]

I guess it's a bit late. But, what about Debian From Scratch. I haven't worked on it yet. But, won't it provide more customisation and better package management?

[nwBen]

lfs damnit, why bother ripping off another distro? if we are going to make a neowin distro it should have the file layout WE want, the package format WE want, the graphics/design WE want. If we ripoff an existing distro we lose the ability to choose the layout we want and the package format we want and it'll just be another waste of space eye-candy change to an existing distro

Agreed