[gentoo-catalyst] GSoC: Create a Web-based Gentoo image builder

[gentoo-catalyst] GSoC: Create a Web-based Gentoo image builder

[Eugen Serban]

Hello!
I would like to approach this idea for the GSoC 2009.
Can anyone help with some "how to"s or a forum or something like that
where I can learn more about Catalyst?
I am not very familiar with it.

Thanks!
Eugen Serban

Re: [gentoo-catalyst] GSoC: Create a Web-based Gentoo image builder

[Peter Stuge]

Eugen Serban wrote:
> I would like to approach this idea for the GSoC 2009.

That's an interesting idea.


> Can anyone help with some "how to"s or a forum or something like
> that where I can learn more about Catalyst?

Not really.


> I am not very familiar with it.

You should start using it. Build five or ten stages. Pick a hardware
that you want to build for, and start from the example stage spec
files installed together with catalyst.

You will need good knowledge and understanding of Gentoo, portage,
USE flags and so on, to quickly absorb most of what catalyst is
about.


//Peter

Re: [gentoo-catalyst] GSoC: Create a Web-based Gentoo image builder

[Erick Michau]

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Hi,

Depending on your approach you might eventually be interested in a similar
tool called metro available at http://wiki.github.com/funtoo/metro
It provides similar features at certain levels and noticeable differences
too. It currently builds stable and unstable gentoo stages. Reading through
gives some knowledge about building stages.

It sounds like a very exciting project and the first questions that pop up
to my mind are: how would one interface catalyst/metro with a website? is
there any already existing similar framework? How much space would the
server require for how many concurrent users building stage1->3 all at the
same time?

I have no clue as for the answers but it really feels like an interesting
challenge.

On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 9:21 PM, Peter Stuge <peter@stuge.se> wrote:

> Eugen Serban wrote:
> > I would like to approach this idea for the GSoC 2009.
>
> That's an interesting idea.
>
>
> > Can anyone help with some "how to"s or a forum or something like
> > that where I can learn more about Catalyst?
>
> Not really.
>
>
> > I am not very familiar with it.
>
> You should start using it. Build five or ten stages. Pick a hardware
> that you want to build for, and start from the example stage spec
> files installed together with catalyst.
>
> You will need good knowledge and understanding of Gentoo, portage,
> USE flags and so on, to quickly absorb most of what catalyst is
> about.
>
>
> //Peter
>
>

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Re: [gentoo-catalyst] GSoC: Create a Web-based Gentoo image builder

[Eugen Serban]

Thanks!

When I first read about this idea I was very enthusiastic because I
remembered my first attempt to install Gentoo. A tool that would
simplify the process, but still keep the Gentoo "philosophy" is really
useful.

To be honest, what really concerns me is the architecture of the server
(cpu and hdd). But if I succeed in making it, even for one connection
simulated on my computer, then I am sure that it will be a great success.

Thank you very much for the link!

Erick Michau wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Depending on your approach you might eventually be interested in a similar
> tool called metro available at http://wiki.github.com/funtoo/metro
> It provides similar features at certain levels and noticeable differences
> too. It currently builds stable and unstable gentoo stages. Reading through
> gives some knowledge about building stages.
>
> It sounds like a very exciting project and the first questions that pop up
> to my mind are: how would one interface catalyst/metro with a website? is
> there any already existing similar framework? How much space would the
> server require for how many concurrent users building stage1->3 all at the
> same time?
>
> I have no clue as for the answers but it really feels like an interesting
> challenge.
>
> On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 9:21 PM, Peter Stuge <peter@stuge.se> wrote:
>
>   

Re: [gentoo-catalyst] GSoC: Create a Web-based Gentoo image builder

[Peter Stuge]

Eugen Serban wrote:
> To be honest, what really concerns me is the architecture of the
> server (cpu and hdd).

I consider that to be mostly irrelevant. There can be a simple
queueing system and a build cluster with distcc.


> But if I succeed in making it, even for one connection simulated on
> my computer, then I am sure that it will be a great success.

I consider the challenge to be how to provide a useful interface for
creating spec files.

Also - the web site has to simply start the process, and then notify
the initiating user out of band when the build is finished because
the request will otherwise take much too long.


//Peter