Improving the Quality of GNU/Linux Distributions

Abstract

International audienceThe widespread adoption of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) has lead to a freer and more agile marketplace where there is a higher number of components that can be used to build systems in many original and often unforeseen ways. One of the most prominent examples of complex systems built with FOSS components are GNU/Linux-based distributions. In this paper we present some tools that aim at helping distribution editors with maintaining the huge package bases associated with these distributions, and improving their quality, by detecting errors and inconsistencies in an effective, fast and automatic way

A grounded theory of Community Package Maintenance Organizations

“…Researchers have studied Debian to explore themes such as the evolution of volunteer participation [24], or the apparition of governance structures [26], both of which should be relevant for CPMOs. Automation developed to help maintain Linux distributions [5] could also inspire automation for CPMOs.…”

A Package System for Maintaining Large Model Distributions in VLE Software

“…The package system must provide several features. Many of these characteristics are the same as in the Linux distribution such as Debian or Redhat [10]. The solution proposed in this paper is largely inspired by the works of the FOSS community, but adapted and restricted to the M&S in VLE environment.…”

Feature Diagrams as Package Dependencies

“…Precise formal meanings to all these notions have been given elsewhere (see [8,13] and the Mancoosi project http://www.mancoosi.org). Tools are available in the distribution world to choose healthy installations according to user requests [15] and to perform sophisticated repository analysis [1,5].…”