SEUL: RFC: Base SEUL on Debian?

[Erik Walthinsen <omega@omegacs.net>]

After talking with Bruce Perens quite a bit about this subject, it sounds 
like our best bet will be to start developing from the existing Debian tree.

The goal is to start with a basic distribution.  No end-user components in 
this whatsoever.  It would consist of Debian core components.  It would 
become the foundation for SEUL, and would likely be distributed as a "kit" 
with the Debian archive.

As soon as SEUL starts to pile stuff on top of this core, I would like to see 
a branch split off of the core to start incorporating all the Debian futures, 
including COAS, Diety, and possibly a few *basic* pieces of GNOME.

Eventually, I would like to see this core distribution become standard, 
possibly with Debian itself using it and helping to maintain it.  If 
acceptance grows, I would like to see other distributions using it.

It is my belief that Linux can only go so far with a fragmented set of
distributions, each of which is somewhat incompatible.  Vendors must
currently compile and test their apps on Debian, RedHat, Slackware, Caldera,
etc., if they want it to be used under Linux.  This is a major reason why
companies don't want to invest in a port, as simple as it could be.

I will be providing more information as I have time.  Unfortunately, I have 
work and school, not to mention sleep :-)


I am looking for any *major* reasons why this is not a wise course of action. 
I have heard all the smaller reasons, and I (and others) do not believe any 
of them to be valid reasons not to start from Debian.

I will be working on the "official" announcement and documentation for this 
over the next day, and it will be become official sometime Friday or Saturday 
unless there are *serious* objections.

TIA,
   Omega

     Erik Walthinsen <omega@seul.org> - SEUL Project system architect
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      |    | M E G A            Creating a Linux distribution
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