[gentoo-genkernel] Re: [RFC] Genkernel4 and Geninitramfs plan

[Amadeusz Żołnowski]

Quoting Amadeusz Żołnowski (2012-09-10 14:59:42)
> > > I am suggesting appropiate tool for this task.  Please explain me
> > > with real arguments how Python would be better than Bash4.  I have
> > > mentioned altering boot manager configuration and parsing
> > > kernel.org already, but that still doesn't promote Python for the
> > > whole Genkernel.
> >
> > I have given the real arguments already; there are honestly no
> > hidden real ones.  I use Bash and Python at work daily, so I know
> > what Bash is good at and what it isn't.
>
> Me too.
>
>
> > Let's take argument parsing as an example actually again), since you
> > don't get around that one.  How are you going to do that in Bash,
> > cleanly?  Using getopt(1)?  Using a big case statement with
> > extracting "foo" from "--param=foo"?
>
> In Python it would be a big block of "parser.add_argument()" calls.
> This is not so much big difference from case..esac, despite that ootb
> it would require separate maintenance of usage help, but I have a
> solution for that, too.
>
>
> > In current genkernel that's a mess because it is Bash and not
> > Python.
>
> In current Genkernel it is a mess not because of Bash but because of
> design.  In Dracut options are handled better and I have some idea how
> do it even better.  For handling options Python/Awk could be used in
> some way.  I'd like to implement options generator which will
> automatically generate usage help, man page, example config file and
> bash case..esac with options from a nice *single* template.
>
> Options handling is not the core functionality and shouldn't be a main
> argument in decision on language choice.  Genkernel core functionality
> is about coping with shell commands and for that Bash4 is the best.


I haven't got any further reply.  Do you agree with me?

I'd start with a tool which will generate usage help, man page, example
config file and bash case..esac option handler from a nice single
template.  Next I'll proceed with Genkernel4/5.


-- 
Amadeusz Żołnowski