[Fedora-livecd-list] Config file format proposal

[Tom Lisjac]

On 7/18/05, Greg DeKoenigsberg <gdk at redhat.com> wrote:

> Should we use anaconda wherever possible?  And are we making a mistake by
> not using anaconda?

Anaconda/kickstart already does 98% of the heavy lifting that's needed
for a top quality CD build tool. Taking a little more time to discuss
it might keep us from reinventing the wheel. I think it's a good
choice because:

- it can accept a flexible config file and produce highly customized
images from a variety of package repositories.
- it has a gui for building images interactively for both the
configuration and build phases.
- it's an existing, production quality system that is well known,
widely used and thoroughly documented.
- it can execute pre and post install scripts (using any interpreter)
to provide CD image customization to any degree that is needed.

> What are the downsides of using anaconda?

It will have to be modified.

It's always more fun to start with a blank page rather then modify
somebody else's code.  Unfortunately many new and creative ideas get
stuck inside buggy, half finished projects because building, refining
and documenting a complete package like Anaconda is a *lot* of work.

The bottom line is how much time do we have to get this project
finished... and how much of that time should be spent duplicating
large portions of an existing system that a lot of people already use
and like?

-Tom