Re: [Config4gnu-developer] Basics of architecture

[Jason L. <jl...@me...>]

In response to:
Devin Jones <dev...@ya...> 10/21/02 17:27 PM


Yes, that's right. I couldn't have said it better myself. Do you have any
suggestions/criticisms?

I'm not sure yet what the contents of the descriptor file will be, but you
are correct that it will need to specify the commands to transform the file
from native to XML and back.

We could also provide ways for descriptor files to "extend" another
descriptor file. So, for example:

inifile descriptor file (example)
 - defines a "readcommand" to read the configuration file and generate an
XML
 - defines a "writecommand" to write the configuration from XML
 - defines that a configuration node of this type should contain a property
called "config file" that specifies the file that is to be parsed

samba descriptor file (we really like using Samba as an example)
 - it extends `inifile'
 - defines a default "config file" property of "/etc/samba/smb.conf"
 - defines descriptions, data types, and default values for properties
 - defines a "validate" command to check a configuration

As we work out these details, I want to post them to our "System
Requirements Specification", which is a document that attempts to describe
very precisely the various capabilities of the system.

The requirements specification is a Docbook-format file available in CVS
under website/docs/requirements/requirements.sgml. Justin has posted this to
the http://config4gnu.sourceforge.net website.

Jason