Re: Why is Desktop NetBSD a threat to NetBSD?

[David Brownlee <abs%NetBSD.org@localhost>]

On Sun, 8 Feb 2009, David Holland wrote:

> On Sun, Feb 08, 2009 at 02:35:50PM +0000, David Brownlee wrote:
> >         I'd be curious to find out people's response to the following
> >         question:
>
> Since you addressed it to me...

        Sorry - I picked a message from the thread. It was not
        targetted specifically at you.

> >         If changes were made to NetBSD and pkgsrc to better provide
> >         an install option for a fully featured desktop system, and
> >         they did not affect your use or experience of NetBSD (apart
> >         from additional questions in the installer), do you have
> >         any objections?
>
> This question is framed so that the answer almost definitionally has
> to be no.

        For most people, but I suspect there is a very small minority
        who would answer yes. I wanted to clarify that as the rest
        of my post would be irrelevant for them...

> >         If your concern is with the changes themselves impacting
> >         your existing and future NetBSD experience, then I completely
> >         understand - please take a look at the Desktop Project pages
> >         http://wiki.netbsd.se/Desktop_Project (Particularly Phase1)
> >         and identify the individual issues.
>
> Which is fine, but almost none of that touches on the points that
> concern me. In order to make the desktop stuff work properly, it needs
> to integrate with the base system at a number of points. (Obvious
> examples that come to mind include the handling of online
> documentation, generating/processing device change notifications, and
> dealing with system configuration.)
>
> If this integration is not done at all, the desktop will not run very
> well, which will reflect badly on the project even if (maybe
> particularly if) lots of people don't use the desktop.
>
> If the integration is done poorly, it can and will affect the quality
> of the existing and future NetBSD experience for those who don't use
> the desktop.
>
> As I said in my previous posting, doing the integration well requires
> thought and attention, and I'm somewhat concerned about whether it's
> going to get it. It doesn't help that other projects have set a poor
> precedent, either.

        Valid points - I believe they are relevant to Phase 2 of
        the project. Maybe you could add a summary of your converns
        to that page?

> The only one of the tasks as such that I have concerns about is the OS
> branding/boot splash screen thing. However, jmcneill has already told
> me in so many words that he's not interested in my opinion, and for
> the time being I don't feel inclined to push any further.

        Its a feature I also would have no use for, and would not
        want enabled on any of my boxes. As long as the 'traditional'
        install defaults it to off though, I'm happy.

--
                David/absolute       -- www.NetBSD.org: No hype required --