Re: CFD: XMLification of NOTES

From: Alex Keahan (alex_at_hightemplar.com)
Date: 03/31/04

  • Next message: Poul-Henning Kamp: "Re: Where should devctl notifications be sent from?" 
    To: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 07:27:48 +0200

    On Wednesday 31 Mar 2004 1:54 am, Dag-Erling Smørgrav wrote:
    > Alexey Zelkin <phantom@FreeBSD.org> writes:
    > > On Tue, Mar 30, 2004 at 05:05:24PM +0200, Dag-Erling Sm?rgrav wrote:
    > > > NOTES is not intended as a list of supported device and options. We
    > > > have src/sys/conf/files* and src/sys/conf/options* for that.
    > >
    > > Strange. IMO LINT was existed for exactly this reason
    >
    > Your opinion does not matter. The purpose of LINT is to cover as much
    > code as possible. Why do you think it's called LINT?

    Why doesn't his opinion matter?

    Perhaps my opinion does not matter either, but as a developer and
    long-time FreeBSD user, I don't think that XMLification of NOTES is
    such a bad idea.

    Having said that, I can also see why some developers would be opposed
    to the idea. Apart from neophobia and an obligation to fight to keep
    Unix pure, simple and free from modern-day buzzword nonsense, the main
    reason for the hostility and ridicule with which Alexey's idea was treated is
    the simple fact that an XML kernel configuration tool would likely shift the
    blame for misconfigured kernels from the end-user to the developer.

    Whereas previously a developer could add a new option or remove an
    existing one without having to think twice about it, a strict XML schema
    would force the developer to adhere to higher standards, explicitly evaluate
    and list the dependencies and possible incompatibilities and reconcile the
    new options with the multitude of the existing configuration possibilities.

    A good thing for the end-user? Certainly. At the moment, a user who has
    the misfortune of breaking his system by adding an "option FOO" to his
    kernel without the required corresponding magical "option BAR" will be
    told to "go read the mailing list archives", "go read UPDATING" or simply
    "go away".

    With an XML-based dependency system in place, the blame would be
    entirely on the developer who had forgotten to update the NOTES file or
    had done so incorrectly.

    An XML-based list of supported devices and options would also allow the
    creation of a kernel configuration tool, similar to what Linux has had for as
    long as I can remember. Again, a good thing for the end user.

    As it currently stands, FreeBSD is not designed for users who don't read the
    mailing lists to keep track of changes. Their opinions simply do not matter.

    AK

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