[Mentalunix-developers] re-awaken the project?

[Clinton E. <unk...@un...>]

Is anyone still here? I guess mentalinux died because there was no
point--almost every project goal was already done by Debian. In my
ignorance I wanted to start my own distribution, even though I lacked
the skill to do so. So, the project died.

Now a few things have happened. 

One: I have finally, after two years of fighting, gotten net access on
my machine. I'm still on a modem, but having net access on your main
machine is a big help to anything you want to do. 

Two: Debian woody is basically released. The distribution is basically
frozen completely and will be released once the security builder system
is in place. 

Three: Woody has a few problems
- Missing important new packages (that are now released or will be soon)
  - KDE 3
  - GNOME 2 (almost out)
  - Mozilla 1.0 (I think woody has RC1, haven't looked)
  - XFree86 4.2
  - Guile 1.6
  - Mplayer (which just became 100% GPL)
  - ...
- The installer is still now user-friendly (no hardware detection)

So, why am I posting this? As the subject says, I want to start the
Mentalinux project again. I think starting work on stuff like virtual
kernels (which is a good idea and can be done with userspace linux) at a
later date would be a good idea still (e.g. vk could handle the creation
of writable section in the image and other stuff I've been thinking
about for the last year). But right now I think that a re-awaked
mentalinux should do a few things:

1. Use the bf2.4.18 woody install disks and create a new install disk
that uses pgi (Progeny Graphical Installer)
2. After woody is released open an apt source that contains important
packages like KDE 3 and Xfree86 4.2 recompiled for woody
3. Customize the default configurations for things like KDE and
Windowmaker to be slightly nicer
4. Write pgi configlets to do things like set up scsi emulation for
cdrecording
5. Start work on the mentalinux programs like vk

Basically just tweak Debian to make it slightly nicer. Contributing all
of our changes (except for the updated packages because those would
already be in unstable) back to Debian would be a good idea too.

So, does anyone want to start work on the distribution again? I'll start
on the install disks soon if anyone wants to help with the rest.

-- 
unknown_lamer (not at home)