I'd just like to pledge my support for this, and if you need any help then please do get in touch!
On Mon, Jan 29, 2001 at 12:45:35AM +1100, hogan wrote: > > the boot floppy disk)). Most documents found do not suite debian to > > 100%, that would not be the case in that generator. > ... > > and as you said is you said, the scripts searching for valid information > > is pretty easy, but the structure of the database will have the most > > importance for the whole thing to work. > > Agreed! The database structure is the most important thing of all. <snips> technologies or operating systems etc. are introduced (for example, biometric > devices) one won't have to rewrite the system from scratch or hack it to bits. > I mean if the data is put into such a system correctly, the output document > format can be just about anything! :) Yes, the database structure must be very very extensible and must be able to cope with anything the future will hurl at it! > > If for example someone is trying to find a solution for working with Foobar > Corp's new Model X device under environment A.. and someone has a solution for > working with Foobar Corp's older Model T device under environment B - the > database should be able to try and find the closest similarities and show the > instructions for the Model T - flagging that it may not be the solution. That may well involve an almost electronic-level understanding of the peripheral in question, which is not always possible. I think that the greatest problem is that people coming from windows no almost nothing about the hardware they have - if their motherboard has a sound set built on to it then they will not know the chipset (I didn't for a long time ;-). This may become the hampering factor - if you have to specify everything (down to design of motherboard, IDE controllers etc) then it may become a little too complex. > > Also your point about "most documents found do not suite (sic) debian to 100%" > is true - however to discard this information is not good - having the > facility to describe it as "not 100% suitable for debian but worth reading" in > the event that someone hasn't yet written a debian solution would be great. > Indeed writing the system from the word go to be "Debian" specific could be > damaging to the system's popularity - if you could keep it general and > generate enough interest in it, you could have vendors entering information > directly into the system.. That's very true. But as different dists have things set up differently (eg FSH) it may be a little hard for them to enter info directly into the system. Plus, many of the other dists provide a great deal of documentation. Additionally, some of the maufacturers have very poor installation guides and the guides will need re-writing to make them useful in anyway (eg NVidia). This could be an excellant resource, but it needs a lot of sitting down, and thinking and designing to make it as good as it could be. > Anyway - just my ramblings :) To which I've added! Matthew