Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 19:25:26 -0800 From: Vizion <vizion@vizion.occoxmail.com> To: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Cc: Danny Pansters <danny@ricin.com> Subject: Re: GoFigure project Message-ID: <200511191925.26934.vizion@vizion.occoxmail.com> In-Reply-To: <200511200300.59072.danny@ricin.com> References: <200511191729.07905.vizion@vizion.occoxmail.com> <200511200300.59072.danny@ricin.com>
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On Saturday 19 November 2005 19:00, the author Danny Pansters contributed to the dialogue on- Re: GoFigure project: >On Sunday 20 November 2005 01:29, Vizion wrote: >> Hi >> In the past I have discussed my interest in trying to build a viable web >> interface for documenting and maintaining configurations for freebsd. > >IMHO that should include the (ways of) configuration itself because that's > as much part of it working or not. > >> I now have a specific project in mind that I have labelled GoFigure and >> would value some feedback from this list of reactions to the proposal and >> opinions about GoFigure's viability, appeal, extensibility and the degree >> of collaboration that could be anticipated. >> >> The basic concept is simple in concept but will require a lot of work and >> collaboration. I suggest that GoFigure_1.0 would represent the >> achievement of the following five loosely described stages: >> >> 1. Creation of XML schema to cover the definition, validation, >> interpretation, documentation, & editing rules for configuration files in >> freebsd ports. > >Hmm perhaps an API first, and an XML schema later? > >> 2. Building a parser to generate an XML version of configuration files. > >That would be nice but I again think that would require having a unified api >first and at the end pour that into a formalized xml format (and perhaps > also a simple text format which represents configuration as-is now. That > would really make a bridge from what is to what you'd like to I think) > >> 3. Building an XSLT based processing system that also converts XML >> versions of configuration files into the configuration file(s) required by >> each port. > >Ok, if an XML format proves to be better than the "flat format" that's in > use now. > >> 4. Creating a mysql database for storing and manipulating the data. > >If a database is needed. Current solutions use flat hashes and such, and as >long as they're categorized by the port catagory and after that flat it's >pretty much a flat database altogether and any use of any db that has super >duper indexing wont help. IMHO ports/packagers should be indexed in some way >that's not obvious in human context but which is in the context of the >underlying system, e.g. by dependency. > >> 5. Creating a web application that uses the XML versions of the >> condiguration files to provide a sysadmin interface to inspect, validate, >> maintain, edit, track, document and finally generate configuration file >> updates using the tools built in stages 1>4. > >Now here's where you should use xml until the very detailed rendering end >because it's a way to get to not only web but also qt/gtk/.. front GUIs. > >> In the long term I see some potential for dynamic use of the metadata and >> data in the XML files for XML based applications to manipulate and manage >> updates and for comparing different system configurations. > >Could you explain how? Because this is the interesting part... can you get >ports/packages metadata and corresponding handling in a nicer more general >frame (with xml or not, start with an api). > >> If I decide to proceed with this project I have a limited amount of time >> that I can devote to it and my enthusiasm for it will, I think, largely >> depend upon how useful a contribution others feel it would be to freebsd >> and how willing committers might be to collaborating with it. >> >> comments please > >There you go, IHMO. > >Greets, > >Dan Thanks for your input I am on my way out so I have not had time to study it carefully. I will get back to you thanks again david -- 40 yrs navigating and computing in blue waters. English Owner & Captain of British Registered 60' bluewater Ketch S/V Taurus. Currently in San Diego, CA. Sailing bound for Europe via Panama Canal after completing engineroom refit.
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