New Arch Idea, would like to hear opinions..

Question

I was thinking.. I was kind of tired of always when reinstalling arch on my laptop or new computer that I have to configure it, choose packages etc etc..
If in installation, one could choose premade configuration of what to packages to install, what configurations that should be done, what modifications and etc. Then doing the basic config yourself and let the rest be done automatically. This was All installation of packages and settings being done automatically and when done it should have a ie a fully working gnome desktop with a specific theme and specific software installed..
This would be great.. Then arch users could upload that config file and others could use it to have same installation as that user..
The main idea is to save that time.. so that i can go away and when i am back i have a working gnome desktop with firefox and its addons, my specific theme settings and desktop keyboard shortcuts.. setting alsa, removing some unneccessary modules etc..
Just to make it clear here is an example..
Installation Config examples:
1. Gnome desktop with some specific theme and gdm login manager, open office + bunch of other apps... (all configs made to have this working, like setting gdm into rc.conf etc etc..)
2. Kde Desktop with firefox... bla bla bla..
This is just an idea ontop of my head..  and i just need your opinions of what you think, if its good idea, possible or whatever.. I know it sound little difficult but I dont think its impossible and this would give arch more unique feature.

Answer 1

ralvez wrote:
For what it's worth, I have done such a tool for myself and have been using it for a few years now. It is a simple script that automatically installs the packages I need depending on the type of installation I want to do.
Here is the script for those that may be interested:
#!/bin/bash
# A script to automate installation of programs in a new set up of ArchLinux
# by: R. Alvez
# ======================================================================== #
user=$UID
if [ $user != 0 ]
then
echo "Sorry. Only the ROOT user can run this program !"
exit
else
echo "###############( Updating Programs )###############"
echo
echo "Start: "
date
fi
# Basic programs
function baseprogs(){
echo "==============( Basic Programs )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in xorg xorg-apps kde firestarter
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# Productivity tools
function productivity(){
echo "==============( Productivity Tools )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in htop screen hwd openssh ntp host mc yakuake
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# Web Development
function webdev(){
echo "==============( Web Development Programs )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in bluefish cssed kdewebdev gvim eric4 apache mod_python php mysql mysql-python python-ldap mysql-gui-tools
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# Multimedia
function multimedia(){
echo "==============( Multimedia Programs )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in xine-lib xine-ui amarok-engine-xine alsa-lib alsa-oss alsa-utils alsaplayer gstreamer0.10-alsa alsa-plugins mplayer mplayer-plugin amarok-base amarok-engine-xine gstreamer0.10
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# Office productivity programs
function office(){
echo "==============( Office Programs )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in jre openoffice-base openoffice-spell-en openoffice-es
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# Tools for running/using CDs and DVDs
function cd_dvd_tools(){
echo "==============( CD-DVD Tools )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in libdvdcss dvd+rw-tools libdvdread k3b
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# Some of my favorite programs
function favorites(){
echo "==============( Favorite Programs )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in conky kompose xbindkeys pidgin guifications purple-plugin-pack workrave gkrellm gkrellmlaunch gkrellweather tuxcards
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# Special Drivers
function drivers(){
echo "==============( Program Drivers )================="
echo
for PROGRAM in linux-uvc-svn xf86-video-intel
do
echo +=========================+
echo "PROGRAM: $PROGRAM"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm $PROGRAM
echo -e \\n\\n
done
# MS-True Type fonts
function ttfonts(){
echo +=========================+
echo "Program: MS-TT Fonts"
echo +=========================+
echo
pacman -Sy --noconfirm ttf-ms-fonts echo -e \\n\\n
# un-comment the productivity packages you want to install
baseprogs
productivity
cd_dvd_tools
multimedia
# office
favorites
# webdev
drivers
ttfonts
echo "All done!"
I hope it will be of benefit to some of you.
R.
Nice functions.
About making a pre-configured Arch system, that idea is nice but it goes apart from Arch philosofy, however it's still nice because it would still remain bleeding-edge and fast, let's just say that we would quit the KISS part of Arch and keep the other advantages (this would also help n00bs to adapt to an Arch envirnment so they could later use a normal Arch Install)...