First Look at Debian's Next Generation Installer

An anonymous reader writes "Over at LinMagAu There is an interesting look at the new beta version of the Next Gerneration Debian Installer. Putting aside the fuss around Ian Murdock, Progeny and Anaconda, this is how Debian is constructing the future of what is known to be it's Achilles heel. It's a well done beginning." While still not a graphical installer (and the article does a good job of explaining why that's not a priority) the installer now autodetects hardware, streamlining module selection, which was previously one of the more confusing parts of the install for newbies.

Comments

Re:Graphical?

[dipipanone]

No, it makes you a dumbass.

Jeez, sarcasm is lost on a witless fuck like you, isn't it? If you don't randomly install software and drivers, then its a non-issue

Hey, if you don't use your machine at all, it's an even bigger non-issue.

But here's by point, spelled out in words of three syllables or fewer so that you can understand it.

I use both Windows and Linux on a daily basis. I install and uninstall a lot of flaky software onto my Windows machine, and the registry gets filled up with crud and random shitty drivers get scattered around the machine. I don't mind that. I understand how the system works and that an occasional reinstall is the price that I pay for that.

My point wasn't that this shouldn't happen. My point was that any stupid fuck -- yes, even someone as retarded as you -- can and does install Windows on a regular basis.

Now try learning to read in context, dimwit.

Sure they are...

[Tim]

"To be fair, the only time most people ever need to even insert any hardware modules for the install is to install a single network card driver. The modules for the rest of a person's hardware are generally loaded by the kernel after installation."

HA!

Maybe my system isn't "general" enough for Debian. I've spent the last 2 days installing Woody, reconfiguring and recompiling kernels, and reinstalling packages, just to get my network card (Intel Eepro 10/100) and CD writer working. Debian doesn't correctly configure the network card modules during the install, and doesn't even bother to think about the CD writer.

I think the only "fair" thing to say about Debian's current installer is that it's competitive with Redhat's 1998 installer. So, ultimately, I have to spend 3x as long installing the system as I would using Redhat, and I'll get a system composed of packages that are old. Why is this worthwhile, again?

I'm burning a Fedora Core CD as I write....

Hey look, the debian support people are here!

[Tim]

"You must be doing something wrong. My epro 10/100 works just by loading the module during the install and the CD writer "just works". /me wonders what is wrong with you?"

Ah, you must be part of the highly-touted "community support" for Debian!

What is wrong with me, if you must know, is that I stuck a Debian CD into my drive, and naively assumed that it would work.

Frankly, between half-assed installs, old packages and trolls like yourself, I don't have any problem using Redhat or Fedora. I prefer to get work done, rather than fskcing around with my CD drive for days....