Re: [PLUG] is there an audience for linux matrix?

[bergman@merctech.com]

In the message dated: Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:31:44 EDT,
The pithy ruminations from "Brian Stempin" on 
<Re: [PLUG] is there an audience for linux matrix?> were:

=> 
=> I think it's usefulness would be a direct result of the user's ability to
=> drill down into detail.

Initially, yes. The matrix could be very useful, and visually appealing.

For a similar concept, see the Unix Rosetta Stone:
	http://bhami.com/rosetta.html

However, I think there's one very important thing that's been overlooked in 
this discussion. The Linux Matrix will only be useful if it is continually 
maintained at a high level of accuracy. This would be a tremendous commitment 
to on-going research and site administration.

Regardless of how the information is presented, what interface is used, etc., 
the whole concept relies on the completeness and accuracy of the data. Since 
the vendors of different Linux distributions don't have a standardized format 
(XML, csv, or even text that can be machine parsed) for describing the 
requirements and capabilities of their distributions, maintaining the Linux 
Matrix would require a huge amount of work. Imagine monitoring LWN, 
DistroWatch, linux.org, linuxhq.com, etc. on a daily or weekly basis in order 
to get timely announcements of new or updated distributions. Then you've got to 
go to the home page for each distribution, read their announcement and 
documentation in order to manually extract the data that you want to list in 
the matrix. That data often comes with many qualifications, which will require 
manual choices for how they should be listed in the matrix. For example, the 
hypothetical FooBar might list:

	RAM Requirement for FooBar distribution:
		embedded systems installation (ARM)	32MB
		embedded systems installation (x86)	64MB
		kiosk installation			256MB
		desktop installation			512MB
		desktop installtion (SPARC)		768MB
		internet server installation		512MB
		developer installation			1GB
		developer installation (Itanium)	2GB
		desktop + graphics installation		1.5GB
		database server installation		2GB
Does this mean that FooBar has 10 separate entries in the Matrix? Do you list 
RAM requirements as being "32MB to 2GB"? Is the minimum RAM simply 32MB? Do you 
exclude particular flavors of the release?

Overall...it sounds like a good idea, but I seriously question whether such a 
cross-system comparison can possibly be self sustaining, unless there's a 
significant on-going investment in personnel, or unless the vendors make system 
requirements and features available in a standardized, parseable format.

Mark


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