To me, it depends. Both methods can be elegant. For example, I like
using commands like zfs/zpool to set configuration parameters, but I
don't like the way it's done in LVM or VxVM. In particular, LVM and
VxVM require too many different commands to achieve a goal. On the
other hand, if something requires a massive amount of configuration,
then for me, the configuration file wins, hands down. qmail is a good
example of a great configuration file. In opposition, most people
hate sendmail.cf (but it doesn't bother me). There's also interactive
commands like zonecfg, which I find to be elegant. Off hand, I can't
think of an interactive configuration command which I've found to be
inelegant. Finally, any application which requires configuration
through an interactive command should have the option to take
configuration settings through an input file, so that configuration
can be easily scripted.
So, I'd say it depends on how the developer can best present the
configuration. If he can make a more elegant configuration file, then
more power to him. However, if he can make configuration more elegant
using commands, then that's cool, too. Now, if I can have it both
ways, that's the best!
On Mar 27, 2009, at 4:00 PM, Peter Tribble wrote:
So, a question for the weekend:
When administering something, do you prefer to issue a bunch of
commands
to set configuration parameters, or edit a configuration file that the
thing can read?
(Where edit doesn't necessarily mean vi or emacs, but could also
mean the
automated generation of a configuration file via any means. In fact,
normally
the automated way rather than the by hand way.)
--
-Peter Tribble
http://www.petertribble.co.uk/ - http://ptribble.blogspot.com/
_______________________________________________
sysadmin-discuss mailing list
sysadmin-discuss@opensolaris.org
http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/sysadmin-discuss
_______________________________________________
sysadmin-discuss mailing list
sysadmin-discuss@opensolaris.org
http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/sysadmin-discuss
