He is not asking for a gui config tool for everything, nor is he saying he is afraid of editing config files:
If I had a *comprehensive* one-stop-shopping place to go, it would help a lot. It doesn't have to know all the esoteric PnP techniques, it just has to know how to execute the tools that have already been written. Perhaps it would let you browse all/dev/* entries, click on each one, and it would start the configurator tool that is responsible. Or at least point the user at what/etc/*.conf file was useful. I would hope to see loopback tests and more importantly, what to do or where to look if something's not working resources, even if they're just URLs back to the distro or author of the uberconfig tool.
This seems like a marvelous idea to me.
A centralized repository of pointers to all the configuration tools/files that exist somewhere under linux.
He is correct, merely finding out what needs to be changed can be a huge waste of time. Learning how to use Linux, no matter how innately valuable the process of discovery might be, does not mean we all have dozens of hours to spend finding out where inittab is.
Perhaps a listing of all the common hardware devices and software, with a paragraph describing the config tools or files, and their common locations. A link to the appropriate HOW-TO, or any other documentation that may already be on the system, and links to useful URL's would be a great time-saver. Maybe this could be added to linuxconf for the bits it doesn't currently handle, and as a fallback for the stuff it does.
I imagine a tool like this would be a source of encouragement for the many people who are willing to experiment with Linux, but may actually have a life outside of computers vying for their time. Certainly many people that would benefit from the stability and versatility of Linux, but who might otherwise give up after too many disappointments trying to get thing X working.
Now the issue of standardizing on the format of config files seems like another great idea, XML might be well suited to the task, but merely making a common syntax would be a step in the right direction. Windows ini files were a model of simplicity, no matter which other faults they may have. Are there any XML parsers already written that can easily be embedded into an app to add this functionality?
It seems to me this merger is a profound validation of the very things slashdot readers value.
Remember AOL bought Time/Warner, not the other way around. That means AOL's internet presence is more valuable than the sum of all the many properties that make up Time/Warner Bros./CNN/HBO et. al.
Time/Warner doesn't need distribution, it already owns cable properties. It has gobs of content to put on those cable lines, nonetheless, it agreed to be purchased by a company with revenues only a third as large as itself!
This changes the valuation of everything, all internet companies are more valuable immediately, the future really is the internet, not magazines, television, cd's, movies, or any of the old media.
And That is a Good Thing (tm) because it is us who will create that future - we have very little access to older media forms, we don't own magazines, movie studios, record labels, television channels, etc. - but we are creating their replacements, and this merger shows that what we are creating is more valuable than what currently exists.
Ultimately what happened here is Time/Warner, the largest, most powerful, media company in the world agreed to be bought by an internet startup, in order to get better access to the internet, (read: to the future.) For without that access, that presence, they realized they would not be players in that future.
In terms of monopoly fears, Case and Levin announced that they would be supporting open access to their cable lines for isp competition, as soon as the exclusive contract with @home/excite ends next year, so we will be able to pick our isp over our cable modem, it need not be AOL/Time. Furthermore, Time/Warner is not the only source of content in the world, not even a third of it, this means the other content providers will be looking to partner with internet companies quickly, for fear of being left out.
We have created the future, in places like slashdot - AOL is nothing without it's subscribers, creating a dynamic little world - much like slashdot, albiet in a narrower way. I am looking forward to it, the reigns of power are in our hands now.
Slashdot Mirror
It is just delightful to see this, graphics done in Amiga Blitz Basic, emulated under linux. What will they think of next? Alekzandr
A centralized repository of pointers to all the configuration tools/files that exist somewhere under linux.
He is correct, merely finding out what needs to be changed can be a huge waste of time. Learning how to use Linux, no matter how innately valuable the process of discovery might be, does not mean we all have dozens of hours to spend finding out where inittab is.
Perhaps a listing of all the common hardware devices and software, with a paragraph describing the config tools or files, and their common locations. A link to the appropriate HOW-TO, or any other documentation that may already be on the system, and links to useful URL's would be a great time-saver. Maybe this could be added to linuxconf for the bits it doesn't currently handle, and as a fallback for the stuff it does.
I imagine a tool like this would be a source of encouragement for the many people who are willing to experiment with Linux, but may actually have a life outside of computers vying for their time. Certainly many people that would benefit from the stability and versatility of Linux, but who might otherwise give up after too many disappointments trying to get thing X working.
Now the issue of standardizing on the format of config files seems like another great idea, XML might be well suited to the task, but merely making a common syntax would be a step in the right direction. Windows ini files were a model of simplicity, no matter which other faults they may have. Are there any XML parsers already written that can easily be embedded into an app to add this functionality?
Thought provoking question,
Alekzandr
It seems to me this merger is a profound validation of the very things slashdot readers value.
Remember AOL bought Time/Warner, not the other way around. That means AOL's internet presence is more valuable than the sum of all the many properties that make up Time/Warner Bros./CNN/HBO et. al.
Time/Warner doesn't need distribution, it already owns cable properties. It has gobs of content to put on those cable lines, nonetheless, it agreed to be purchased by a company with revenues only a third as large as itself!
This changes the valuation of everything, all internet companies are more valuable immediately, the future really is the internet, not magazines, television, cd's, movies, or any of the old media.
And That is a Good Thing (tm) because it is us who will create that future - we have very little access to older media forms, we don't own magazines, movie studios, record labels, television channels, etc. - but we are creating their replacements, and this merger shows that what we are creating is more valuable than what currently exists.
Ultimately what happened here is Time/Warner, the largest, most powerful, media company in the world agreed to be bought by an internet startup, in order to get better access to the internet, (read: to the future.) For without that access, that presence, they realized they would not be players in that future.
In terms of monopoly fears, Case and Levin announced that they would be supporting open access to their cable lines for isp competition, as soon as the exclusive contract with @home/excite ends next year, so we will be able to pick our isp over our cable modem, it need not be AOL/Time. Furthermore, Time/Warner is not the only source of content in the world, not even a third of it, this means the other content providers will be looking to partner with internet companies quickly, for fear of being left out.
We have created the future, in places like slashdot - AOL is nothing without it's subscribers, creating a dynamic little world - much like slashdot, albiet in a narrower way. I am looking forward to it, the reigns of power are in our hands now.
Alekzandr