Re: [Pcbsd-developer] pcbsd 1.1 brings some tough questions

[Andrei K. <an...@bs...>]

=DChel kenal p=E4eval (kolmap=E4ev 31 mai 2006 3:44 am) kirjutas Kris Moore=
 - PC-BSD=20
Software:
> I think part of the reason you are disappointed is that you
> misunderstand my intent with updates such as 1.1. 1.1 is not meant to be
> an entire "System Transformation", but rather a small update to bring
> the core OS up to FreeBSD 6.1. (And fix the online update manager)
> Things such as redoing the system installer, changing network manager,
> portsnap etc are functionality updates. These are things that should be,
> and will be upgraded at the next major release point of PC-BSD, probably
> 2.0. This isn't to say that some things will not be fixed, For example,
> some of the ports will be updated, etc.
Of course I misunderstand when there is no information about what is going =
on=20
and why there is such a rush about releasing untested updates?

Another thing that is bothering me is "Official Changelog for PC-BSD"=20

 * Upgraded Online Update Utility to display status + plus major bugfixes.
 * Added DRM / ATI support to default kernel.=20
 * Misc bugfixes.

What major bugfix, what Misc. bugfixes?? Bugzilla is your friend but I see=
=20
nowhere mention about it.

DRM stands for Direct Rendering Modules and is the kernel modules installed=
 by=20
the drm-kmod port. You have to explain it to users, most of em would think=
=20
now that PC-BSD is DRM (Digital Rights Management) infested.

More facts please.

> The network manager is really just a frontend to "ifconfig", so if you
> run ifconfig, and it doesn't see a device, then the network manager will
> not as well.=20

Detected Network Adapters:
ral0 (Ralink Technology RT2500)
Device Status:
nothing !!!

Device Properties:
Static IP Address
IP Address: nothing !!!
Netmask: 255.255.255.0 !!!

Now the real ifconfig:
ral0: flags=3D8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 inet6 fe80::20e:2eff:fe4f:dd90%ral0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x5
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 inet 192.168.1.2 netmask 0xfffffff0 broadcast 192.168.1.15
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 ether 00:0e:2e:4f:dd:90
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect (DS/11Mbps)
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 status: associated
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 ssid turvaauk channel 11 bssid 00:05:5d:xx:xx:xx
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 authmode OPEN privacy OFF txpowmax 100 protmode CTS bintval=
 100

Explanation:
IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Netmask: 255.255.255.240

Yes I don`t have WPA right now I use pppoe encryption.


> This needs to be changed, but that is more than just a=20
> "bugfix", but rather a lot of new functionality needs to be added in,
> such as WIFI support, etc. I have a document here with a huge list of
> the TODO's that need to be done for the next *major* release of PC-BSD,
> and I'll be fixing it up over the next week and posting it online for
> comments and feedback here shortly.

Wifi is configured via ifconfig novadays.
Post this ToDo to developers list please.

> I would just ask that folks be patient. Windows XP and Mac OS X weren't
> built overnight, but rather are the results of years of full-time
> dedicated teams of developers to make them as powerful as they are. (You
> could throw RedHat & SuSE in there as well) As of now, PC-BSD has
> primarily two C++ developers, Tim and I. With neither of us employed
> full-time by PC-BSD, it takes time to get these things done. But when
> you consider where we are now, from only 1 year ago, when Charles saw my
> pitiful website and stepped in, it's a huge leap :) I look forward to
> seeing how PC-BSD has matured a year from now as well!

I know all developers work hard for this project but lack of information is=
 a=20
killer. And it would be nice to have more information about PC-BSD Software=
=2E=20
Is this a company of some sort or what? To me DesktopBSD development seems=
=20
more professional and transparent, learn from em. I think PC-BSD primary go=
al=20
must be documentation and only then development of miscellaneous tools.=20
Current PC-BSD Network Manager tool is useless and I`d never release it unt=
il=20
it become feature complete. Now it just confuse newcomers and make it hard =
to=20
use this overall great distribution.=20

PC-BSD is beta quality product now and marking it with 1.0 and 1.1 release=
=20
number is just plain stupid. If it is beta then call it appropriately. It=20
reminds me Microsoft with their shitty product line with enormous sheet of=
=20
bugs never fixed...

Online update utility downloading in background is BAD idea IMHO. Microsoft=
=20
once did this mistake with Windows 95 and I remember what happened- these=20
days nobody trust microsoft anymore. Users must have more choices, they wan=
t=20
to know what their OS is doing.

> If anybody reading this has some skill with C++ / QT or any other
> developer ability, I welcome them to volunteer! With the new subversion
> server setup, we can get developers added quickly and get them rolling
> on these nice updates.

If you want more developers you have to have right tools for work. Bugzilla=
 is=20
useless if nobody use it for bug tracking. And if users in forum ask=20
developers about something and nobody is replying then this is bad=20
imagemaking. If you don`t know something or this exact feature is not your=
=20
primary goal then say so.

Simple revision control for impatient:
# touch /bin/rvi=20
# ee /bin/rvi

type in file these lines:
#!/bin/sh=20
 co -l $1=20
 vi $1=20
 rcsdiff -u $1=20
 ci -u $1

Now make it work:
# chmod 555 /bin/rvi=20
# rehash
# cd /etc/
# mkdir RCS
# rvi rc.conf
follow the instructions.

If you want file with some revision number then:
# co -r1.5 rc.conf

=46or more information:
# apropos rcs


Kris you have done great job and now you have to be responsible for it to w=
ork=20
further. One man army is not an option. My english not fluent enough to say=
=20
it more smooth way, but I think all of you understand what I mean by this=20
criticism of mine.


P.S. I am 30 years old and work with unix based systems from 1994. Started =
my=20
first company while 20 years old. My CV is 4 pages long and I have=20
experiences from webdesign, hardware diagnostics, customer services,=20
webhosting, managing large networks, server manufacturing, business/project=
=20
management. etc. and I am not a programmer- I know how to program, but I ha=
ve=20
no time for this.

Yours Truly
Andrei