Looking for feedback on a new idea

[mrBen]

OK - am looking for some feedback on an idea that myself and a friend have got for a new Linux prog. It's mainly my idea, but he would probably use it for his degree project. What we really need to know is if there is something already like this (I don't think so), and any ideas you might have for such a program. Here's the idea, as copied from an e-mail I sent to another guy.

I am somewhat a newbie in the Linux world, although I have come through a fair few obstacles, and am finally able to pass on some 'wisdom' :) to others. However, the area of installing source code has always been a bit of a problem. I can do the tar -zxvf with my eyes closed, and ./configure; make; make install is perfectly understandable, but never seems to go quite how I want it to.
RPMs have been good, both on the command line and in KPackage. But as I understand it, there is an advantage to compile source code on your machine, rather than using the precompiled binaries. Herein lies my suggestion:

I would like a program that would handle the unpacking, verfiying of dependancies, and compilation of source code. This would be acheived by taking details from a simple text config file, and input from the user, and matching these by inserting the correct details allowing ./configure; make install; make to work properly.

The program starts by asking for the path of the .tar.gz / tar.bz2 file. It then (preferably without unzipping the file yet) reads the config file (see below) which supplies it with various details. Then it will ask the user where the program is to be installed to.
Next it will list the dependancies with some extra details:
<Name of dependancy> <where found (if found)> <menu of suggested locations to install from> <browse and install buttons for dependancy>

This page would show if dependancies have been found on the system, and would allow the user to input where to look for them, but also the option to install the dependancy from a location either specified by the programs author or by the user. Once the user has all dependancies satisfied, then installation will go ahead, with any error messages 'explained' for the user.

The program would hopefully be able to scan an ordinary configure file and guess dependancies. Plus we plan to use a web based html/java/script program that allows a developer to enter all the details of his program and have his 'install-config' file outputted for him.

_The 'Install-Config' File_
This would be a simple text file which is placed with all the rest of the source in the tarball. It would go something like this.....

[Title]
title="My Fabby Program"
intro="A fabby program that does lots of cool stuff"
author="Mr V. Clever"
website="http://www.address.com"
bug email="bugs@addresss.com"

[Install]
default="/opt/prog/"

[Dependancies]

no_of_dep=3

[1]
dependancy="libqt"
default="/usr/lib; /usr/X11/lib/"
install="ftp://ftp.address.com; ftp://ftp.mirror.com"

<NB - this would allow companies to provide and install libs off the CD if necessary. User could also enter address of CD if he has one, or search a CD to find if he has it>


Anyway, I hope that gives you some idea of what we're planning. Looking forward to hearing your ideas/comments.

(Please don't hurt me if this is all crap :()

[bdg1983]

I dont think this is all crap - not that i could help iam afraid - coz except atari basic i dont speak any of these languages . But the idea sounds very good to me !
But why is it better to compile the code on your own machine ? Do you know more about that ?

David

[eXtremist]

It sounds good to me.. Certianly any program that makes linux easier to use would be advantageous to the linux community. The main reason people shy away from linux is it's steep learning curve.

[JALU]

I for one was thinking of the same idea, although because my programming expertise extends to writing Hello world in c I can't exactly do it. It's a great idea, let me know when you finish and I would love to help ya test it out.

[trekker]

Sounds cool... I for one would really look forward to such a tool though I do get a kick out of "getting my hands dirty" installing from source code. Nevertheless, like what eXtremist said, I think that would really help in advocating the use of Linux.

All the best!!

[mrBen]

OK, I'm going home now, but I expect to see loads of feedback when I get back tomorrow. Don't disappoint me now. ;)

[Tyr-7BE]

Three words: :cool: Debian :cool:

What you propose is a very good idea, but it sounds to me to be a HUGE task. Debian apt-get does virtually the same thing. "apt-get install <packagename>" will download the package, along with all dependencies. It will then decompress the package, install all software, configure the software (with maximum/minimum user input...you decide when you install apt), and then delete the package files. Clean, simple :) A tar/gz program would certainly work, but it would have to be one hell of a database!

[William Henrey Gates III]

How is :( Debian :( three words?

[Frawg]

this apt get... can i get it for redhat linux?

[Bradmont]

Hey, here's a thought: You could get the source for APT, and modify it to get source packages instead of binaries. After all, that is the point of open source ;). Or you could leave apt the same, and add the option to install from source with an extra command line argument, such as:

apt-get install fromsource <insert prog name here>



Originally posted by Frawg:
this apt get... can i get it for redhat linux?
Frawg, that is an horrible suggestion! ;)

[ 14 March 2001: Message edited by: Bradmont ]

[mrBen]

Aaarrggghhh!! You've missed the point :(

apt-get for Debian, and Red Curtain from Ximian, are both great pieces of software. RPMs do work, so do .deb files. But the majority of software out there is distributed in source format. AFAIK there is also a performance benefit in compiling something from source on your system over installing from precompiled binaries. One of the fundamental ideas of this program would be to allow a newbie user to compile from source quickly and easily _and_ to allow software developers to be able to add a quick config text file to their programs to make it easier to install, rather than having to go down the RPM or DEB compiling road.

I don't in anyway see this program as detracting from either .deb or RPM formats, merely a way of automating / simplifying something that all Linux users have to do at some point - compile from source.

The idea itself comes out of my own frustration. I have never been frustrated with RPMs. KPackage has always held my hand and brought me through it relatively painlessly. But there is so much software that simply doesn't come as RPMs, and besides, you have to find one that matches your system.

Anyway - thanx for your suggestions. We will be looking at other systems and how they work. Any more feedback would still be gratefully received. :)