Re: [PLUG] apt-get / rpm freshmeat article

[Bill Jonas <bj@netaxs.com>]

On Mon, 18 Sep 2000, Michael W. Ryan wrote:

[ Snip ]
>The point of a package-managed system that frequently gets overlooked is
>to give you a functional system with minimal work.

I never heard the statement made (or implied) that a graphical config
tool and package management made a system insecure.  What I *did* hear
was that distributions *in general* need to be more proactive with
security, *especially* now that Joe User is making up a larger
percentage of the user base.  I know *I've* taken shortcuts.

Personally, I'm fine with vi and /etc/.  But that's not for everyone.

You know, these sorts of arguments are coming up more frequently.  Is
Linux a victim of its own success?

>Also, about text config files versus graphical interfaces and wizards: for
>95% of the work you need to do, a GUI and/or wizard better than a text

I really hate splitting hairs here, but... for remote administration, I
don't want to have to install X (and its resultant security risks) on
the server.  But you'll be precisely right when you say that the power
of choice is one of Linux's greatest strengths.  (I'm not debating
that, or suggesting it should be limited.)

>file.  A GUI provides up-front error checking, provides rational defaults
>(not just up front, but also in response to configuration changes), and
>presents the necessary configuration information in an organizaed,
>understandable, and non-overwhelming manner.  Obviously, this assumes a
>properly designed interface.  It also does NOT obviate the information
>being stored in a text config file.

I don't know if this is Debian-specific (I just had a cursory look at my
SuSE system, and it wasn't there), but 'sendmailconfig' is such a
text-based tool.  As are vipw and vigr.  :)

(I want to make it clear that I'm not trying to be antagonistic.  Lord
knows I've stuck my foot in my mouth on the list before. <g>)

Bill
-- 
>Ever heard of .cshrc?             | "Linux means never having to delete
That's a city in Bosnia. Right?    |  your love mail." -- Don Marti
(Discussion in comp.os.linux.misc  |  http://www.billjonas.com/
on the intuitiveness of commands.) |  http://www.harrybrowne.org/


______________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group       -      http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements-http://lists.phillylinux.org/mail/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion  -  http://lists.phillylinux.org/mail/listinfo/plug