From: sundaram@cps.msu.edu (Divya Sundaram)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux
Subject: RE: DISASTER AT MIT (!)
Date: 4 Sep 92 18:18:33 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Michigan State University, College of Engineering
Originator: sundaram@arctic.cps.msu.edu


Hi y'all,

Having read this thread for a while, I feel compelled (!) to offer my 2 cent$
worth.

The file structure at tsx-11 is confusing (for the beginner). This has been
hashed out already. Ted is doing us a favor by letting us use the machine
as an ftp site. If you have concerns about the organization or layout of the 
site, you should send him e-mail, rather than post stuff like "DISASTER AT
MIT". Please remember that Linux is a volunteer driven effort. Maybe now is
the time for you to reread "How to win friends and influence people" :) .

On the other hand, the gurus should realise that at some time or the other 
they were mere mortals (read: newbies) to Linux too (except the founding
fathers of Linux). I (read: NEWBIE) had a nightmare trying to install Linux
until pmac (Peter Macdonald) came along and handed us the SLS dist. If I
had to go and get Linux v0.97 (and the patches) from tsx-11 I KNOW I will 
not be able to do so. Because the speed that Linux is evolving makes one's
head spin, we need to have a slightly simpler setup at tsx-11. As before
I would advocate the following type of setup:

	/pub/linux/packages 	contains all the packeages eg SLS etc
				(I really like and appreciate the way this is 
				setup right now!)

	/pub/linux/v0.96	all the files pertaining to 0.96 release
				containing all the files for a base system
				(with links to the gcc and X11 directory)

	/pub/linux/v0.96/tools	all the tools for v 0.96 that make it a 
				FULL unix (w/o X11) system 

	/pub/linux/v0.96/new	all the enhancements and patches to the 
				original 0.96 release 

	/pub/linux/GCC/verx.x.x	all the files for version x.x.x. This will be
				linked to the v0.96 and 0.96/new directories.

	/pub/linux/GCC/verx.x.x/patches
				pathches (if any) for the GCC version x.x.x
				compiler

	/pub/linux/X11/verx.x	same as GCC - again, there will be links to 
				this directory from the appropriate linux
				version directory.
	/pub/linux/FAQ/0.96	FAQs ...

	and similarly for 0.97 and 1.0 and 1.1 and .... .8>)

If (from one version to the next) the files do not change, simply provide a
link to it instead of recopying it. This way all the enhancements can be found
in the relevant patches directory - e.g. /pub/linux/v0.97/patches/pl1 is the
file containing the first patch ... etc.

 	
	Granted this will take a lot of time - to initially setup, but not to
	maintain. Once setup, litlle more maintenance will be required. Those 
	of us who are newbies could easily find the files we needed to set
	up the base system. Similarly, those gurus would look in the patches
	directory to keep up with the latest development for the current 
	release - this is where all the "new" work would be stored!

Since Linux is being developed simultaneously in about 20 countries by 100s 
of people, co-ordinating and keeping track of all that goes on is next to 
impossible. I feel that the above is a good - maybe slightly naive - way to
address this problem.

Thanks for reading my rambling. I hope that it will help in clarifying matters
and keeping Linux fun and simple.

Later y'all.
Thanks

Divya
(sundaram@cps.msu.edu)