Re: Definition of NetBSD users

[Marc Balmer <marc%msys.ch@localhost>]

> Do we have (a|the) concise, strict, and documented definition of
> NetBSD users?  If not, I'd propose to write down it so that we can
> discuss the design of things in NetBSD respecting each other.
> (Otherwise we'll keep confusing each other!)
> 
> *
> 
> I think NetBSD user interface can be roughly categorized into these three:
> 
> - Binary distribution
>   - sysinst
>   - pkg_add
>   - admin commands
> - "SDK" (== comp.tgz)
>   - build.sh
> - Source distribution
>   - cvs
>   - vi
>   - make, cc, ...
> 
> Note that we don't need source to build applications.  Even kernel
> modules should be able to be built without source "in theory".  (We've
> not reached there.)
> 
> *
> 
> I think NetBSD users can be roughly categorized into these:
> 
> - Server users
> - Desktop users
> - Embedded users
> - Researchers
> - Hobbyists

Let me add "Vendors of commercial software" here.

> 
> (Based on [1], added "researchers".)
> 
> For example server & desktop users are recommended to use binary
> distribution so that they can use the most reliable, stable one and
> benefit from binary updates, at the cost of a little redundancy
> (performance loss, memory consumption, module granularity, ...).
> While we aim to enhance binary distribution support, we should never
> lose internal source code quality for researchers and/or hobbyists.
> 
> Note that these users are equally important!
> 
> *
> 
> Masao
> 
> [1] http://mail-index.netbsd.org/tech-kern/2010/03/08/msg007485.html