[ros-kernel] Re: Proposed books for rosdocs

[Robert C. <rob...@it...>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Casper Hornstrup" <ch...@us...>


> > how would extra applications bloat the kernel?
>
> Have you ever looked at a Windows NT distribution? They are all quite
large.
> Not because the core Windows NT OS is large, but because there are
many
> extensions to the OS. Extensions like drivers and other software.
Also, the
> extensions included in a distribution are specific to certain
targetted
> end-users.

Agreed.

> > although, i do agree with the fact that a user should be able to
customize
> > his system. a package system (a la rpm/deb) might be in line later
down the
> > road.
>
> There is no need to design a new package system. Newer Windows systems
has MS
> Installer, which is sufficient.

I beg to differ on the need for a packaging system - the Installer
service, although a wonderful thing - is immature in some respects to
the capability of the tools that drive installation of deb and rpm
packages.

Some relevant points are:
* open source creation and editing tools for the file format. (Yes these
can be created if someone wants to reverse engineer ORCA.)
* inter-package dependencies. A msi package can _only_ install shortcuts
for components it is installing. Thus to make use of this every install
will include _every_ dependent package. Compare with apt, which can
automatically retrieve a compatible dependency and install it
automatically.

However, that said, I don't believe that the reactos development should
cover packaging systems at all - this is something best left to those
who are distributing the OS. If the original development ends up doing
that, then it is of course appropriate.

Rob

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