[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: KDE Linux/BSD distribution
From:       Stefan Kombrink <katakombi () web ! de>
Date:       2004-10-26 7:08:18
Message-ID: 200410260908.18393.katakombi () web ! de
[Download RAW message or body]

On Tuesday 26 October 2004 08:15, N. Thompson wrote:
> I'm just tossing around this idea I've had for a long time, I've always
> wanted a distribution that focused all of its attention on making the best
> KDE desktop available with the latest version and all the cool
> enhancements. Most distributions today try to include both KDE and Gnome or
> just Gnome and as such KDE often gets less attention then it needs during
> the development process and winds up having more bugs left in it then the
> other DE. Its no surprise to me that a lot of distributions try to hack
> together their own enhancements to KDE and even backport the latest
> features without taking time to adequately test them and all the
> distributions that focus entirely on KDE are commercial distributions that
> are understaffed and don't have the knowhow or motivation to put together a
> truly great distribution.
>
> So far the closest thing I've found to the wonderful KDE friendly Linux
> distribution I want is Slackware 10 with a lot of enhancements from
> KDE-look.org which fortunately for me were already available as tarballs
> otherwise I wouldn't have been able to apply any of them myself being as
> new to Linux as I am. I'm very new to Slackware but its my understanding
> that the only reason I was able to get KDE 3.3.1 was because of the issue
> with the kdemultimedia package in the included 3.2 version, I hope I'm
> wrong but I'd rather not find out with the next slackware release that I
> won't be fortunately enough to get some of the latest stable KDE releases.
>
> To avoid getting too long winded I'll just get to the point. I think it
> would be great if the KDE project would get together some people and make
> an entirely KDE centred distribution of either Linux or BSD. Such a
> distribution should focus mostly on KDE while having some good
> configuration tools and it should have the latest stable KDE build with all
> the cool enhancements that are stable and should only come with unnecessary
> non-kde apps on an extra CD which could contain stuff such as OpenOffice,
> the Gimp and Inkscape. The CD(s) should be broken up into stable, testing
> and unstable categories which should then contain their respective
> applications in subcategories and the entire thing should be based on good
> distribution or possibly made from scratch.
>
> I have personally found Slackware to have good package managements in that
> there is no dependency hell when installing something, I have also found
> RPM to have its merits however and I'm sure dpkg has its own as well. I'm
> currently unfamiliar with BSD so I cannot comment there. The goal of the
> distribution in case I forgot to elaborate enough earlier would be to
> produce the most complete KDE centred operating system with the latest
> stable version and all the cool enhancements free for personal use and then
> at any price including free for business use depending on which the project
> leaders deem most suitable.
>
> I have posted this here because I do not know the first thing about making
> my own distribution, if I did I would have started a long time ago. I think
> it would be a great project despite the already existing distributions out
> there because none of them focus enough on KDE to put together a truly
> stable, current KDE based distribution. I think it could actually work out
> if there was a real community effort and good leadership in action, I
> personally don't have much in the way of skills right now but I'm learning
> C++ and Qt and I'd be more then happy to contribute anywhere I could at the
> cost of any free time I may have. As a starting point I would recommend
> making something Slackware, RedHat or Mandrake based or perhaps seeing if
> another distribution which is having trouble starting up such as Ark Linux
> would take the initiative of being the distribution that would become the
> KDE Linux distribution.
>
> Right now I'm being a little enthusiastic, I would love to see a completely
> KDE oriented distribution that would do a better job at putting together a
> good KDE desktop then what is currently out there, I use KDE every day and
> know that the people behind it are great developers, I also know that Linux
> and BSD both have room for improvement and thats something that I would
> consider well within the grasp of KDE developers. Gnome already essentially
> has a lot of distribution of this type that are free, Fedora comes to mind
> along with Ubuntu and a fair sized handfull of others, KDE on the other
> hand doesn't really have any KDE specialized distributions aside from the
> commercial offerings which always seem to show signs of a release date that
> was much earlier then it needed to be. I'd like to know what everyone
> thinks of this and who would be interesting in spearheading the project, it
> doesn't have to be  distribution built entirely from scratch as long as it
> can be used to meet the goals set before it, I'd take the job myself were
> it not for my lack of experience with really involved KDE tasks, and since
> I'm only 18 and I'm still in school I wouldn't have time to head the
> project but as I said earlier, anyone interesting in pulling this off would
> have my full support and could consider my the first volunteer on the
> project.
>
> Anyone interested?
>
> >> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to
> >> unsubscribe <<

Sounds great for me, and it even might push KDE development.

What user group are you addressing? 
Linux newbies would need a lot of support, and since advanced Linux users tend 
to use lots of software this won't appeal to them.
Let me say what I'm suggesting:
 * create a Distribution for newbies
 * tweaked Debian-Installer, this thing is awesome!
 * Possibility to switch between "newbie" and "expert" when using KDE.
   So you could provide easy access in the beginning, and keeping the
   users the line after turning into more experienced users
 * Use "apt" or "aptitude" for installing, underlying packaging format could 
be any (I suggest .deb)
 * Stability is prior to Eye-Candy
 * working around known bugs, even by means of disabling functionality (don't 
want users to see drKonqui)

I'm in although not as project leader. I never built a linux distributions.
Keep me informed since I might miss something :)

Stefan K. >8^)
 
>> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to unsubscribe <<
[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]