Ok...talking about the ways to do the front-end gui type of config tool. instead of touching the dpkg stuff that is already in place, why not just have the gui/front-end take a look athe the database that already exists and from that it can tell what is installed and what is not. Now..this would require that the front-end be rather huge and probably and a paint to maintain...but that would be where the addition to the existing dpkg infrastructure would come in. Instead of dumping information like "I'm installed, here is my stuff", it would just dump in it's stuff...the front-end would get a list from the package listing and as long as the .deb file installed the information (maybe a sanity check to make sure the info has been installed) it will go through the gui.
I do agree this is a HUGE project and it will need a lot of thought before attempting anything, I just wanted to throw more stuff out there. :) The hardest part of all of this will be the interface. Figuring out how the interface will interact with all the possible configuration scenerios. Then after that, you need to figure out how it will get it's information...either in advance (a big pain) or from the .deb when it's installed (better since the maintainer can keep the information up to date alot easier). But with this you need structure to it. I like the idea of the kernel config type of thing. As there are 3 different methods of doing it (x, ncurses, basic) which allows for your choice. One thiing that can't happen is that the config stuff that is already in place via the dpkg system cannot be removed. It has to always be there. I say this because I don't think someone should be forced to use a front-end config tool. Especially if your using Debian for a server and you want to automate your updates and upgrades. ok..enough of my opions... :) Ivan -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ivan E. Moore II Rev. Krusty http://www.tdyc.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstien -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- GPG KeyID=0E1A75E3 GPG Fingerprint=3291 F65F 01C9 A4EC DD46 C6AB FBBC D7FF 0E1A 75E3 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
