Bruno Jargot wrote:
> On 10/31/07, Tim Foster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   
>> hey folks,
>>
>> Firstly, you know this is specific to just Indiana, right - this isn't
>> OpenSolaris as a whole (heck, it's not even Indiana yet, as opposed to a
>> __developer preview__ of it)
>>     
>
> Indiana will likely form the basis for all future Opensolaris
> distributions. The facts established with this preview may stick
> forever and we have to avoid the mistakes of GNU/Linux at the very
> beginning.
>   

   Not necessarily. Any distro is free to make their own choice
   and distros will change PATH according to their needs.

>   
>> I for one encourage people playing about with this sort of thing - if we
>> don't experiment around with new stuff, then OpenSolaris is going to
>> stagnate, and then nobody will use it.
>>     
>
> If you throw away backwards compatibility, stability and the System V
> tools - what will remain? A Linux-wannabe clone with ZFS and Dtrace.
> The identity and strengths of Opensolaris will be diminished forever.
>
>   
>> Secondly, lighten up will you ? You can always change $PATH post install
>> - it's just ones and zeroes, you know ?
>>     
>
> I think Sun won't stop at changing just the PATH. Maybe the next
> 'experiment' is to replace tools in /usr/bin with GNU utilities which
> will finally end the days of backwards-compatibility.
>   

   This is one distro taking a choice of being friendly to the
   vast majority of GNU users out there. For the lesser number
   who prefer the OpenSolaris/Solaris userland changing the
   PATH is no big deal. In fact it is easier for them to do so than
   expect an OpenSolaris newcomer to go fiddle with PATH to
   get commands that he expects to be there by default.

   Changing all OpenSolaris utilities to GNU utilities is a
   big step and obviously such steps go through lots of discussion
   ARC review and so on. Do you think backwards compatibility
   is not important to paying customers ? It is also possible that
   OpenSolaris utilities get enhanced to add the good stuff from
   GNU utilities.

   OTOH there are times when you need to bite the bullet and
   break compatibility albeit in controlled ways. Consider how
   SMF broke decades of Unix tradition for a valid cause.

Regards,
Moinak.

> Bruno
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>   

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