Re: filesystem development...

[Konrad Kokoszkiewicz <draco@mi.com.pl>]

> Currently `ls` shows lowercase for old tosfs, and `tcsh` won't complete
> VFAT filenames. Is about time we came up with that new distribution we
> talked about some time ago?
> 
> Assuming my above assumptions are correct, then, once these issues are
> ironed out in the kernel, we need to recompile `ls` at the very least... 
> and probably lots of others file utilities for MiNT (seeing as we can't
> change gem)...and we might as well recompile as much as is necessary to
> include timezone support when that is finalised, etc.
> 
> Suddenly it seems this beta-kernel is becoming quite a big project and it
> looks like more people need to get involved :-)
> 
> If I remember correctly, Konrad talked of putting together an updated
> distribution. Konrad - do you want to do this and kernel development? and
> play and sleep and have a job? ;-) 

No. Yes. I don't know. :-) In fact I have no time for additional task like
that. So if there could be a group of personalities, who would want to
prepare a fresh distribution, it would be very nice. 

Actually as I think about it now, two different distributions should be
prepared.

a) 'toy version' (name copyright by Kellis :-)) of the MiNT-Net, able to
    run with plain MultiTOS on (V)FAT filesystem. This should be
    supplied with practical documentation and GEM tools like Jo's
    Connexion, Kellis' MiNTSET and UNIC (for those who have minix
    drives). GlueSTiK would be also necessary, optionally it could
    contain GEM init (quite nice and useful package).

b) full distribution like KGMD is with all changes we agreed here
   on (English as basic language with internationalized install scripts,
   freshen software, removed gcc 2.3.3, updated manuals, modularization,
   ability to add and remove modules on a running system etc.)

Quite a hard job.

Generally it would be fine if several tasks referring to the whole system
could be distributed to people who could CONSTANTLY maintain certain
aspects of the MiNT existence. That is (in no particular order):

- the kernel: this is currently maintained by Frank, Guido and myself.
  Mikka is about to join to take care on 060 compatibility.
- the net package: maintained by nobody, getting slowly out of date (IPv6)
- the distribution: maintained by nobody, out of date for ages.
- the GlueSTiK: maintained by Charles
- the GEM tools: this is currently what Kellis and Jo do.
- the gcc: my proposition is that Christian and Mikka would get in touch.
- the MiNT Library: maintained by Yves.
- the CAB.OVL: maintained by Howard
- the GEM init: maintained by Ulrich Kaiser.
- the TOSWIN: Christian and Petr?
- the terminfo and termcap databases (an important part of a future
  distribution, btw): Petr?
- the ports: everybody and nobody in particular.

And probably few other tasks I forgot.

The most sad fact is the lack of MiNT-Net and system distribution
maintainers. Anybody is welcome to take care on these tasks (as well as on
others). Actually some sort of an order is necessary, because so far the
MiNT community consists of individualists, who used to work alone. This
basically works good, but slow and sometimes some tasks are done twice
paralelly (examples: gcc 2.8.1, make 3.76, bash, and probably something I
forgot).

Another aspect is GEM itself, things are very bad here, because of no
decent free AES. As about the VDI, hopefully Johan's FVDI will progress
quickly.

Of course, all this is only a proposition.

Gtx,

--
Konrad M.Kokoszkiewicz
|mail: draco@mi.com.pl                  | Atari Falcon030/TT030/65XE |
|http://www.orient.uw.edu.pl/~conradus/ | ** FreeMiNT development ** |

** Ea natura multitudinis est,
** aut servit humiliter, aut superbe dominatur (Liv. XXIV,25)
*************************************************************
** U pospolstwa normalne jest, ze albo sluzy ono unizenie,
** albo bezczelnie sie panoszy.