Hello everyone, The lack of proper (GUI) config/install tools has been mentioned, and even though there are some nice ones out there, I have to agree. Proper drop-in solutions are not available.
The problem appears to be most seem too Toolkit, Desktop, Distribution or Application centered, and hard to extend. Now, I found out there already has been great work done to end this. The config4gnu (CFG) [1] project can handle complete config files on a per setting basis. This allows converting every single setting during an upgrade even when the file fomat and available options change. Or if you change between two altenatives, within limits of course. The cfg system point of view comes more from the system side. It's about overcoming the current limitations without limiting choice, and a distrubuted maintainable solution not only for GUIs. Instead of hardcoding for different applications, GUIs or distros it incorporates meta-config definitions. Only universal configuration frontends are toolkit dependent, nothing from CFGs core is application or even distro specific. A while ago I bookmarked a message[2] about the issues with graphical installer and I also read some of you here want to look into it. I see a significant relation between configuration during install and afterwards. What has to be configured I think should be done with the same kind of tool that is also a available afterwards, if one decides to change somthing later on. CFG provides support for complex forms or even wizard logics to run through. And they are provided by the meta-config definitions! Could anybody here also envision to bring CFG to Debian and figure out how Debian could benefit from it? Please check out their website and docs, and post how you think this relates. This is not something to wait for, rather somthing to start experimenting with and getting involved with because the project has slowed down lately. Who else checks it out and wants to collaborate? Christian [1] http://freedesktop.org/Main/CFG [2] Re: Debconf vs. graphical installer http://lists.debian.org/debian-boot/2003/debian-boot-200307/msg00592.html
