Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 18:47:48 -0500 From: Drew Baxter <netmonger@genesis.ispace.com> To: Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com>, Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.com> Cc: Scott Mitchell <scott@dcs.qmw.ac.uk>, Licia <licia@o-o.org>, "Jason C. Wells" <jcwells@u.washington.edu>, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Let's get back on track. Message-ID: <4.1.19981029184530.0097e790@genesis.ispace.com> In-Reply-To: <3638F6A9.1D526912@softweyr.com> References: <Pine.BSF.4.05.9810281808020.7221-100000@s8-37-26.student.washington.edu> <Pine.BSF.3.96.981028205707.13136A-100000@o-o> <19981029161049.Q25247@freebie.lemis.com> <19981029100843.F9354@dcs.qmw.ac.uk> <19981029204848.W25247@freebie.lemis.com> <19981029105821.G9354@dcs.qmw.ac.uk> <19981030084254.Y25247@freebie.lemis.com>
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At 04:13 PM 10/29/98 -0700, Wes Peters wrote: >Scott Mitchell wrote: > >> > The credibility of any certification programme won't be enhanced if we go >> > slapping logos all over products that require an inordinate amount of >> > effort to install. If there's a port to automate it all, then great, >> > otherwise you may be in for a nasty surprise when you get the box home. >> > >> > Please understand that I'm entirely in favour of a 'works with FreeBSD' >> > programme -- just don't dilute its' worth by overdoing it! >> >Greg Lehey wrote: >> >> Agreed. Comments, you others? > >Yeah, let's see if we can get this discussion back on track. I've thought >about this a lot overnight (instead of staying up all night scribing email >messages ;^) and have decided that branding something that can't be >installed by an ordinary, non-programmer "superuser" is not appropriate. > >Licia commented sometime yesterday that FreeBSD ports for these applications >could be provided by users, and wouldn't necessarily have to come from the >vendor. You could've knocked me over with a feather! I *NEVER* intended >for vendors to write FreeBSD port kits; I had always imagined this to be >the logical finishing point of the FreeBSD volunteers who test and install >the application in the first place. > >So, let me re-propose the following two categories. I'll use my original >names; we can fight about that later on. > >Works with FreeBSD: An application that was not written for FreeBSD, but > can be made to run on FreeBSD *reliably.* A FreeBSD > port kit has been developed and posted on the FTP > server that will install the application from a > download or from vendor-supplied media. > >Again, the classical example of this is the Linux version of Adobe Acrobat >Reader. Since the port kit already exists, this logo could be awarded to >Acrobat immediately. > >The port kit in this case is a requirement because it both verifies that >the application can be run on FreeBSD as long as the precursor requirements >are met, and because it enables any reasonably adept system administrator >to install the application such that it will work. > > >Designed for FreeBSD: An application with FreeBSD binaries and a FreeBSD > installation program, from the vendor. A FreeBSD > port kit (created by FreeBSD volunteers) that auto- > mates the install process in a "standard" installation > MAY be available to simplify installation. > >The classical example for this category is Communicator. Netscape provides >FreeBSD executables and an install program for FreeBSD; a port kit is >available that will automate the installation. > >The port kit in this case is not REQUIRED; the application already includes >an installation program that will install the product on FreeBSD. A port >kit, developed by FreeBSD volunteers, may make the product easier to install, >and will be linked on the web page if present. > >The reason for two levels of "logoization" is to provide extra recognition >for those vendors who have gone the extra mile and made their applications >specifically for FreeBSD. This applies to Netscape, soon to be for Applix- >ware, and for a number of other really cool companies. > >-- > Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket? > >Wes Peters +1.801.915.2061 >Softweyr LLC wes@softweyr.com I think you hit the nail on the head. sounds good. I Wonder if Netscape's Communicator CD carries the Unix versions at all, let alone the FreeBSD version. I'd imagine they'd eat up some sort of a logo to stick on the cd.. Oh and at the same time, kudos to Netscape, since we don't see Internet Hygenist (er Explorer) being ported to anything but Mac and Windows. I personally hope it stays that way as well. --- Drew "Droobie" Baxter Network Admin/Professional Computer Nerd(TM) OneEX: The OneNetwork Exchange 207-942-0275 http://www.droo.orland.me.us My Latest Kernel: FreeBSD 3.0-CURRENT (ONEEX) #14: Mon Oct 19 22:36:58 EDT 1998 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
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