Subject: Re: Kernel config file
To: Quentin Garnier <cube@cubidou.net>
From: Tobias Nygren <tnn@NetBSD.org>
List: tech-kern
Date: 06/19/2007 11:30:18
On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:10:54 +0200
Quentin Garnier <cube@cubidou.net> wrote:

> On Mon, Jun 18, 2007 at 03:39:25PM +0200, Johnny Billquist wrote:
> > Jared D. McNeill skrev:
> > >Users shouldn't have to edit config files. proplib enables us to build 
> > >tools to move away from having to do this kind of crap. The fact that 
> > >our plist format happens to be in a format that is easily modified with 
> > >a text editor should be viewed as a feature, not a bug.
> > 
> > You know, Microsoft Windows already have this approach, and I don't know 
> > how many times I personally, and people nearby, have cursed that.
> > Being able to edit the file yourself, and actually know *everything* it 
> > says, instead of relying on tools that are doing things you have no 
> > control over is considered an advantage for some people.
> > 
> > If your sentiment reflects the way NetBSD will be going, I know a lot of 
> > people who will bail out pretty fast.
> > 
> > If we want to run Windows, Microsoft already have an excellent solution 
> > for us to use.
> 
> You're completely scrapping away the part where Jared says the file can
> be easily edited in a text editor.
> 
> I can accept that people don't like XML.
> 
> I HEREBY REQUEST THAT WE REMOVE ALL PRINTCAP-LIKE CONFIGURATION FILES
> FROM /etc BECAUSE YOU CANNOT EDIT THEM WITH JUST AN EDITOR:  YOU NEED
> THE MANUAL PAGE OPENED AT THE SAME TIME.
> 
> Plus I find them _really_ ugly, probably even more than I find XML
> ugly.  That's printcap, gettytab, remote, right?  Any other?

Additionally, proplib with the "SCN" codec as suggested by Jachym would
produce a configuration file similar to that of bind, dhcpd,
wpa_supplicant and so on. I don't personally have a problem with their
syntax. Can XML please be discussed less, and proplib more? :-)

-T