Proposing a great/good/stupid? Idea.

Hello, well, after wandering a bit and trying some distros I have came
to an Idea that could be good, and may interest any/some of the people
that is in this community.

My idea is about a server where you can customize/download a linux
LiveCD deppending on the user prefferences/configuration. I am thinking
in taking as Base OS the Morphix CD (please read on and you'll understand)

Actually, I dont know too much about linux kernel. But imagine the next
scenario:

I enter to www.personallinuxforyou.com web site, and, after maybe login
in to my account i click in a link called "Create Linux Live CD".

After that, the next page ask me what kind of kernel will I like (this
is 2.4 or 2.6 maybe).

After that, I will have the option to setup the LiveCD specifying the
"destination" computer hardware, or maybe a configuration for "all"
computers (that is, the way Knoppix and other LiveCD's do it now, trying
to guess). At this point, I have to note that they may be pre-defined
configs for some machine models (for Dell, HP, etc etc) so I can choose
the one corresponding my machine (if it is listed).

After that, I will be able to choose the base Window Manager, servers,
and other packages.

So, what I am thinking about is like a web server which allows you to
setup a live cd, and after all that is done it will create a .ISO image
so I can burn it and voila, I can use my preconfigured Linux System.

That would be great dont you think?

Now, I know there are lots of things to do in order to get there, but I
dont think its impossible.

If anyone has any idea on where to start (of course, the first thing
woudl be getting familiar with Morphix I guess...) or if someone know
any project which is aiming in that way, please let me know.

I would like to begin one project of that "magnitude", I am a programmer
with experience in C, C++ and several other languages, but I am affraid
I dont have the broad knowledge of Linux, I surely can manage to make
scripts, program etc etc. but I dont have deep knowledge about Linux
(but I am always ready to learn).

What do you think?

Thank you!
--
std P.S. I gladly accept replies with constructive and intelligent
information, please abstent of writing flames or anything else as I
will only read them and laugh (i.e. I will not answer them.)

Omar Baqueiro writes:
> That would be great dont you think?

Why do you want to create a CD when you can download and install packages
at will from the Debian archive?
--
John Hasler
john@dhh.gt.org
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI USA

The basic idea stands in creating a LiveCD, with only the necessary
packages you want and maybe with only the modules for the drivers you
need. And then , if later you need any other package you can download
it via apt-get (or its corresponding GUI).

Here I am thinking in a easy to use web site, to enable beginners to
download his Linux CD, in a sort of centralized way. Maybe, with
accounts in the site/portal, the user will be able to save her LiveCD
configuration.

Now, I think one difficulty will be how to "install" the packages so
they are ready to run in the LiveCD, this could be tackled by making it
a non-liveCD (it must be installed), but creating a install CD which
will install the selected packages and drivers.

You can look it as the inverse of gentoo, the highly customizable linux
distro, unlike it, this distribution will be focused to the people who
does not want to mess with configuration.




John Hasler wrote:
> Omar Baqueiro writes:
>
>>That would be great dont you think?
>
>
> Why do you want to create a CD when you can download and install packages
> at will from the Debian archive?


--
std P.S. I gladly accept replies with constructive and intelligent
information, please abstent of writing flames or anything else as I
will only read them and laugh (i.e. I will not answer them.)

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 15:24:36 +0000, Omar Baqueiro wrote:

> John Hasler wrote:
>> Omar Baqueiro writes:
>>
>>>That would be great dont you think?
>>
>>
>> Why do you want to create a CD when you can download and install packages
>> at will from the Debian archive?

> The basic idea stands in creating a LiveCD, with only the necessary
> packages you want and maybe with only the modules for the drivers you
> need. And then , if later you need any other package you can download
> it via apt-get (or its corresponding GUI).
>
> Here I am thinking in a easy to use web site, to enable beginners to
> download his Linux CD, in a sort of centralized way. Maybe, with
> accounts in the site/portal, the user will be able to save her LiveCD
> configuration.
>
> Now, I think one difficulty will be how to "install" the packages so
> they are ready to run in the LiveCD, this could be tackled by making it
> a non-liveCD (it must be installed), but creating a install CD which
> will install the selected packages and drivers.

For an install CD, couldn't you achieve something like this with the new
debian installer and preseed.cfg?