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Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 02:34:16 +0000
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From: Kurt H Maier <khm@sciops.net>
To: 9front@9front.org
Subject: Re: [9front] Debian port of Plan 9
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Quoting Marty <martyb@ix.netcom.com>:

> Hi list,
>
> I'm still new to Plan 9. My current desktop is Debian, so I am looking
> for way to combine both interests.
>
> How feasible would it be to do a Debian port of Plan 9, like the Debian
> GNU/Hurd experimental port, and how suitable would 9front be as a
> starting point?
>
> If this happens, I see 9front as an upstream source for Debian, not a
> competing project. I'm looking at 9front because it looks like the most
> active Plan 9 project at the moment.
>
> A Debian port would entail:
>
>  - multiple architecture support
>  - porting the packaging system (dpkg/apt)
>  - porting all the apps
>  - adding the missing drivers
>  - following Debian policy and release schedule
>  - finding Debian developers who will sponsor and sustain the port
>
> I don't know anything about getting approval for such a project, but
> if it happens I think there will be a lot of interest. Debian seems like
> a natural fit because it is the only distro (that I know of) that
> supports alternate OSs and kernels, and Plan 9 would be the first to
> do both. The port could also be done unofficially, but it would have
> less visibility and support.
>
> There are many porting issues. A large number of Debian apps use dbus,
> so that might be a biggest obstacle to porting (this is a general
> problem in Debian ports). Could 9p be used instead as a dbus
> replacement? I don't know much about either protocol, but 9p seems like
> a more professionally engineered solution.
>
> Unix APIs, POSIX and FHS are also porting issues to contend with, but I
> am hoping the Plan 9 for User Space will alleviate some of those. For
> graphics apps, could ports be done from one of the frame buffer
> ports, like the Debian ARM port? I have more questions, but I'll stop
> there. Thanks,
>
> Marty

get out