I tried setting up Apache (with ssl) + subversion + mysql and here is my rant after that experience.
I am an avid suse user, used it for the last 4 years (was a debian user before that) as my primary desktop and laptop and for tinkering. I have generally accepted the fact that installing and configuring anything on linux takes time and skill and there are no GUI based interfaces. That was how I configured apache+ssl all these years. I upgraded to the opensuse 11 recently and unfortunately noticed the yast module for apache. I wasted almost a fortnight trying to figure out the error messages I get when I configure using yast. Finally I gave up and did everything by hand and it took me only a few hours.
Here is my previous post to the group explaining my problems Setting up SSL in Apache for subversion - openSUSE Forums
The point is even with version 11 we have not reached a point where things are smooth. Suse and linux distros in general attract a lot of people like me, the ones that dabble in things, the ones that dont mind spending a little time but I believe its a travesty that I cannot configure and install apache with ssl using yast. In fact yast does not have a feature to generate a self signed certs for my apache installation. Making it easy for end users like me should be the way to go for Suse that too with such a tool like Yast at its disposal.
I would expect Suse to provide yast modules to configure and setup everything a regular enthusiast or developer or even an SMB might need. I am talking about Apache, mysql, Subversion, Wordpress, Twiki, Tomcat etc. And while at it assume that people will want SSL configurations for all of these.
It will be really nice to have a programmable way to generate Yast modules. For example I should be able to specify and generate yast module and install it using my makefiles without having to muck with the GUI api.
Suse has made great strides from when I first started using it and it will be good to see more emphasis on ease of use for developers and SMBs. More so because, Linux on the desktop is never going to happen realistically speaking, given the shift towards a cloud model. So it makes all the more sense to target developers and SMBs.
> I would expect Suse to provide yast modules to configure and setup
> everything a regular enthusiast or developer or even an SMB might need.
> I am talking about Apache, mysql, Subversion, Wordpress, Twiki, Tomcat
> etc. And while at it assume that people will want SSL configurations for
> all of these.
Odd. Every other distro I’ve tried gives you virtually zero insight into
any subsystem or app, DNS or otherwise. The fact you have what you have is
amazing as most distros evangelize the command line for configuration.
IMHO YaST is one of the prime selling points of SuSE and not really geared
at developers. Could it use more? Absolutely.
> More so because, Linux on the desktop is never going to happen
> realistically speaking, given the shift towards a cloud model.
I dunno about that. There are a whole lot of folks out there with
piss poor or no internet service that will never ever function in a cloud
model. I spent the holidays on a 26.4 dialup connection that had little
chance of even downloading updates. Imagine tying up your only phone line
for hours at a time to use Office? Think this scenario isn’t a reality?
It still is. There’s no cell service in this particular location either.
Don’t live in a bubble, the ‘cloud’ doesn’t work everywhere.
Don’t get me wrong, I do agree Yast is the best thing around. All I am saying is it should be main focus of development/improvement. As I said previously, making it real easy to create a yast module will be awesome.
Just because no other distro does it, does not mean Suse should be happy with what it has. The very reason why I am posting this is because of Yast.
Coming to the cloud aspect. Its not a bubble as you see it, people working on dial up using linux is not going to happen unless they are developers. I do agree that its probably an unwarranted dig at Suse but its a fact, desktop is going to become irrelevant for the average user in the next few years. Not today obviously.
> All I am
> saying is it should be main focus of development/improvement. As I said
> previously, making it real easy to create a yast module will be
> awesome.
I agree more development in YaST would be welcome.
> desktop is going to become irrelevant for the average user
> in the next few years. Not today obviously.
I don’t see it and I’ve heard the argument before…by Larry Ellison. The
infrastructure is simply not present in many areas.
In fact, due to the economic slowdown I will in all likelihood lose my own
home broadband connection. It’s a high price luxury. As long as
speed=money there will always be a lot without it and without speed and
reliable connections the cloud model is unachievable on scale.