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Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 03:33:42 -0400
From: Coranth Gryphon <gryphon@healer.com>
Message-Id: <199509260733.DAA16047@healer.com>
To: jdl@chromatic.com
Subject: Re: ports startup scripts
Cc: hackers@freebsd.org
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From: Jon Loeliger <jdl@chrome.onramp.net>
> Well, I think these issues point to the more generalized problem
> of simply representing the "dependency graph".  All of the file number

Yep. The underlying framework is the same, it comes down to how
to control sequence.

> Can we have a more abstract representation of that dependency graph?
> Then, either at like, install or boot time (ick) a topological sort is
> done on the graph and the script/script-fragment is linearly ordered

Interesting.

> The algorithm is data driven based on package parts supplied during
> the install and a well-defined although not necessarily unique ordering

Solves a lot of the static config issues.

> There are issues here still, like, how do you state dependencies against
> things that have yet to be invented?  I think that's why fictitious or
> virtual nodes may be needed in the graph too.  They can essentially
> arbitrarily represent the "levels" or "states" in the graph where
> certain properties are available ("NFS", "LAN", "WAN", "Single User").

Solves the dependencies problems if a specification can be coded.

> Tip-toeing back out of the warzone,

Nope, get back in here :-) This sounds like a really good idea.

So, how would you go about implementing such a dependency graph?

-coranth

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