From: Alfred Terwindt (terwindt@cs.utwente.nl)
Date: 07/20/92


From: terwindt@cs.utwente.nl (Alfred Terwindt)
Subject: the state of disorder in the Linux world.
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1992 10:37:05 GMT

Hi AllOutThere,

 
        It's the distribution of Linux what's bothering me, (and not just Linux
        but all the software out in the world especially PD, shareware &
        copyleft). I find it difficult to get an overview of the latest version
        of software.

        I want to do is write a database program which is capable to maintain
        a overview of software versions, where to get these etc... A special
        feature would be that it is updated by diff's between (sub)databases.

        In my opinion Linux should be distributed as small as possible, so you
        can extend it to your own satisfaction. (installation program, kernel,
        sh, tar, compress, download utility), and a database with the latest
        versions of Linux utilities.

        Such a database would contain information such as :

Version : latest 1.xx 2.xx etc
Author : where to mail for bug fixes etc
Primary distribution site : address, protocol
Machine : language, hardware needed, OS
Description : Filename of the archive, short discription
Type : editor, language, OS, utility etc...
Copyrights : PD, shareware & price, copyleft etc...

        Each distribution (archive) should contain this information in a file
        (so that sysops and others easely maintain such a database)

        I'm willing to write such a programm but only if it would be accepted

Alfred.

-- 
rn: .signature: Alfred: No such user or process