Linuxconf's technical references

Here is some documentation explaining how Linuxconf is done. This should gives you (one day :-) ) enough information to jump and enhance Linuxconf. On this page, you find:

• Linuxconf on IRC
• Technical overview of Linuxconf
• Some tips for developpers
• General API for modules
• The GUI protocol
• Module tutorial
• Enhanced System V init script
• System profile versioning
• Multiple machine management
• Translation system
• Writing gurus

	/join #linuxconf
	

Here is a document presenting what Linuxconf does, not in term of the various things it can configure, but more on how things are collaborating inside. Here it is

Some tips for developpers

here you will find some tips about the source organisation of linuxconf and how to use the various Makefiles.

General API for modules

Here is a document presenting the various API and objects used in Linuxconf. Here it is

The GUI protocol

Currently written in C++, using the Wxxt toolkit and in C using the gnome toolkit (and not yet completed in Java), he GUI server communicate with Linuxconf using a simple protocol. Click here to learn how this is working.

Module tutorial

This is a step by step presentation of all the pieces of an administration module for linuxconf. Click here. Comments and questions are welcome!

You can find some tips about modules at http://distro.conectiva.com.br/prjs/linuxconf/howto .

Enhanced System V init script

This is a new way to write System V init script which make them a lot more useful. This was developped in join venture with Red Hat Software and available since Linuxconf 1.10r4. Package developpers, read this.

System profile versioning

There is no elaborate documentation on this feature, but take a look a the help screen here.

Multiple machine management

There is no elaborate documentation on this feature, but take a look a the help screen here.

Translation system

Linuxconf is built with a sophisticated translation system allowing almost anyone to translate it for other language and track the the new releases without pain.

Click here to learn more about this.

If you want to contribute and jump into translation, read the two documents

• Translating messages: quick start
• Translating helps: quick start

Translating all the messages of the user interface should be done in few hours. Translating all the helps will take somewhat longer :-)

Here are some guidelines to write help screens.

A gurus is a set of simple dialogs hooks together to acomplish a tasks. Those dialogs are generally verbose, contains very few input fields and presents a "back" and "next" button to navigate between each dialogs.

Here is a screen shot of the Xterminals server configuration gurus.

You will find some documentation about the guruengine framework here