System Configuration [Was: Changing IP Addresses]

[Tony Hammitt]

OK, so what it comes down to is that we need to start using
something like XML with validators for all of the system and
application configuration files.  We need a universal standard
way of storing and updating information.  Unfortunately, this
would be an incredible, major effort to get started.  Also, XML
itself isn't really perfect for the task since commenting is a
pain and the validation engine would need updated to be useful
when there is no network.

But it would allow us to define a set of acceptable values for
the configuration parameters, validate that they make sense as
a set and provide an easy way to add functionality without
breaking the old config files or programs.

So, maybe it would take a few years to get it all working, but
then those of us who like hand-editing files can do so and
those GUI config tool fans could have a consistent interface. 
What I like best about the idea is that the config files would
all be in the same format, so people wouldn't have to learn to
read each file format, like they do now.

Unfortunately, the whole scheme is going to seem too much like
the awful windoze registry for some people to accept.  (As if
_everything_ about M$ is terrible, not just 99.97% of it :).

That's what I'd do about the problem.  Heck, that's what I DID
about the problem for my code.  I have a configuration file
library I use for several projects.  It's LGPL if anyone is
interested, I still have to write the validator and some other
features, but it won't be hard.  Let me know...

Regards,

	Tony

Jonathan Hutchins wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joshua Bergland" <kclug at mrj412.com>
> 
> > I just don't buy the argument that making Linux user friendly will
> > hinder the OS.
> 
> I wouldn't buy or make that argument either.  However, "user friendly" and
> "Microsoft Copycat" are not equivalent terms.  GUI tools are nice, and
> they're a good step toward making Linux more accessible to the average
> user - especially average users who have never known an environment prior to
> Windows95 where configuration by command line was assumed.
> 
> However, those tools should work _with_ standard configuration files, not
> strike out on their own and overwrite configurations from the standard text
> files - as linuxconf definitely does.  They should work in a way that helps
> the user see what's going on in the configuration, and possibly offer direct
> access to the configuration files themselves - but not without showing
> exactly where that information is being stored.  (This is one of the major
> pains in the Microsoft world - you can't ever be sure a program is
> completely uninstalled, because it leaves fewmets all over the operating
> system.  Likely as not, a re-install will miraculously recover the settings
> you made in the original, even if those settings cause the program to
> crash.)
> 
> > Unless things change, I can't forsee Linux ever pentrating the desktop
> > market. Of course, this may not be a goal of Linux either...
> 
> Since Linux, in and of itself, is not a market competitor but more a
> philosophy and a development model, I find debate about "market share"
> pretty obtuse.  I know what you mean, but I'm not overly worried about "our
> side winning".
>