CZOSUG Feedback on OpenSolaris

CZOSUG Feedback on OpenSolaris

Not in the plan:

  • Provide a profile for existing Solaris users. GNU/bash/desktop features are nice for desktop users but may not be good on servers.
  • Missing guidelines for creating IPS packages. There are no rules.
  • OpenSolaris is not using IPS in the "eat your own dog food" style. This slows down the development. Many bugs in IPS.
  • The development of OpenSolaris is way too spontaneous which hurts it's quality.
  • OpenSolaris is developed by a small group which ignores existing Solaris practices.
  • Integration of packages via SFW - the requirement to have SVR4 packages for IPS repository. Doesn't scale well and wastes resources.
  • Decision about including GNU tools - they are not suitable for Solaris because they don't support Solaris specifics.
  • IPS is too fragile. It is not possible to reinstall a package. No disk format for IPS. Mirroring IPS repositories not supported well. No security updates. No logs, no possibility to provide support for IPS. IPS can break the OS.
  • Package manager GUI looks like a 10 year old application.
  • Many man pages are missing.
  • Broken naming of OpenSolaris (is OpenSolaris a project or is it a distribution?). There's no way to differentiate easily between these two terms.
  • Broken naming of packages - SUNW-based names, mess in naming of packages.
  • Error messages from pkg are written to stderr. Provide better error messages.
  • It is hard to build ONNV and other parts of OpenSolaris.
  • Provide a possibility to change pool name during installation.

Already in the plan:

  • Provide a community package repository.
  • Provide possibility to choose which packages to install during installation (e.g. minimalistic core install for the server).
  • Missing Sparc support.
  • NWAM is not reliable.
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