No. -----Original Message----- From: "Marty" Sent: ‎11/‎30/‎2014 6:02 PM To: "9front@9front.org" <9front@9front.org> Subject: [9front] Debian port of Plan 9 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