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Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 20:59:54 -0500
From: Marty <martyb@ix.netcom.com>
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Subject: Debian port of Plan 9
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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