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Re: EDU Distro - was Re: [seul-edu] Linux in Elementry
But why go thru that. Why not make the install based to where they dont have
to configure anything. In our proposed install you would have two options.
Teacher Student with these options we do the work.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Armstrong" <synrg@sanctuary.nslug.ns.ca>
To: <seul-edu@seul.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 12:51 PM
Subject: Re: EDU Distro - was Re: [seul-edu] Linux in Elementry
> On Thu, Aug 23, 2001 at 09:17:08AM -0700, Samuel Hart wrote:
> > Actually, I personally think a whole distro should be made, instead of
simply
> > overlaying an existing one. The biggest problem (IMHO) with existing
distros
> > is that they come with far too many server items that the average school
> > would never need. Does each desktop /need/ a web-server? Do they need an
FTP
> > server? etc. etc. Anything extra that is added like this, increases the
> > maintenance and security concerns (and that's something we /dont/ want)
>
> Eh? Baffling. Have you ever looked at a Debian install? You are
> presented with "tasksel", an interface for picking what you want to
> install. By default, *nothing* is selected. Don't want a web server?
> Don't ask for it.
>
> An education option could be provided, just as I have done for Debian
> Jr. If you want it on your system, you just need to mark that checkbox
> in tasksel. That's all there is to it.
>
> > Plus, if a distro was made with schools in mind, the installation
process
> > could be tailored to be as easy and straight-forward as possible to
those
> > working in the school (Progeny, RH, MD, SuSE, these all have relatively
easy
> > installs, but there are too many options that the averge educator would
not
> > understand and would confuse them [options such as "do you want shadow
> > passwords?", "do you want to make a user now?", "what file system do you
want
> > to use?' etc. etc.]). Also, we can't assume that they will have a
> > computer-literate person working on installing the software (even if
they are
> > supposed to be the tech support ;-) so it needs to be as simple as
possible.
>
> I agree, and debconf is designed to be usable in that fashion: prime it
> with the variables you want to "pre-answer" and then let 'er rip.
>
> > One of the things I have been thinking about (and that we plan on doing
in
> > Tux4Kids) is there needs to be multiple distros, each geared
specifically for
> > different needs and different skill-sets.
> >
> > There would be one for the average school desktop machine, one for
> > administrative systems, etc.
>
> Ugh. Far better to put the effort into making your chosen distro easily
> "sub-settable" as Debian already is. Naturally, you know where my bias
> is, but the principle I have been promoting is not so much that you
> should go with Debian as it is that you should leverage off of existing
> work done by others and, if necessary, join them and improve their
> offerings rather than forming yet-another-splinter-distro which will
> probably come and go and eventually end up leaving its users in the
> lurch because its original creators have long since gone on to pursue
> other interests.
>
> > As a matter of fact, as a QND stop-gap solution, one could even make an
> > installationless distro (a Linux system on bootable CD) that contains
lots of
> > different edu software applications and is easy to use (you just pop in
the
> > CD, and reboot ;-)
>
> Assuming the system's hardware/BIOS allows booting off a CD. OK, so I
> guess if you have this problem, you could do a CD-plus-floppy. But
> again, why not do this with an existing distro? It will be a whole lot
> easier to install and maintain the "master" and keep it up-to-date with,
> say, the latest security fixes if you use someone else's distro rather
> than trying to handle all those grotty details yourself.
>
> > We at Tux4Kids actually have a /very early/ prototype of just such a
distro,
> > you can see screenshots of it here:
> > http://www.geekcomix.com/snh/o/m/e/g/a/01-02-16/shots.html
> > http://www.geekcomix.com/snh/o/m/e/g/a/01-02-19/shots.html
>
> Not bad looking. Uncluttered, simple menus (although I really wonder
> what "productivity" is going to mean to children :) Further along in
> the UI department than Debian Jr. is going to be for Woody.
>
> > (Note, this project is currently on hold... We are waiting to see what
can
> > happen both from some of the other EDU software we're working on, as
well as
> > other kid-based distros, such as DebianJr ;-)
>
> Debian Jr. is not a distro. It's an installation option for Debian. :)
> Debian is a general use multi-user operating system. As such, it is
> necessary to consider that parents and children alike will be sharing
> these systems. I cannot assume that I have complete control over what
> gets installed where. As such, there is not yet much "information
> hiding", e.g. removal of entries from the menus that are unlikely to be
> of interest to children. But I don't feel this is a major shortcoming.
> In fact, I sort of like that the children can explore, try "grownup"
> things, and maybe even break them. Keeps me on my toes at least. :)
> Helps me to shake any preconceptions I may have about what is "kid
> stuff" and what isn't on a Linux system.
>
> Ben
> --
> nSLUG http://www.nslug.ns.ca synrg@sanctuary.nslug.ns.ca
> Debian http://www.debian.org synrg@debian.org
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