A section for config files

Gherald2 · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:00 am Post subject: A section for config files

Well it sort of falls under the category of "Documentation, Tips, and Tricks" so a new section might be overkill... but perhaps not. There are literally thousands of different config files and I think many of them deserve their own thread.

Just a few I'd pick, from my own limited experience:

.bashrc
.bash_logout
.vimrc
.xinitrc
.fvwm
.icewm
.fluxbox/*
/etc/sudoers
/etc/profile
/etc/privoxy/user.action
...

There is a lot of cool customization that can be done with such files and it's a shame that there doesn't seem to be a way of sharing them with others. Google is a good resource, to be sure, but I'm kinda wishing for a centralized repository of every-so-slightly more-gentoo-specific examples.

Instead of a new section we could just have a loose thread for each config file in Doc/Tips/Tricks, but that might get cluttered... I don't know; maybe I'm overestimating the interest in this sort of thing.

Now before you start looking at me strangely and yell RTFM, realize that I am not looking for yet another list of possible options. The basic idea is to expose ourselves to how others have combined said options into a useful whole.
_________________
Unregistered Linux User #17598363

gpmartinson · n00b Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 54 Location: Minnesota

This seems to be the sort of thing crying more for a wiki than a forum section, but I agree that there is a lot of stuff out there and it takes hours and hours[ (T=A*3) T=time A=available time] to configure your boxen.

pjp · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:01 pm Post subject:

A "parent" thread in DT&T that had links to each "config file thread" might work. I don't think it warrants a forum unto itself.
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

Gherald2 · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:11 pm Post subject:

Ahh yes that would work nicely, similar to how the faq forum is organized.

You could make a sticky thread called "Post your config files" that links to each child thread and also lays a few ground rules to keep thing standardized. For example, emphasize no support or "how do I do this?" questions, just straightforward config posting in [code] tags with a short explanation of what the tricky parts do.

This thread should be writable so people can request new child threads be added, which for consistency should be named after the config file itself, no more, no less. Threads about files that go in home directories should have their basename as the title, like ".bashrc" (or something like .fluxbox/* if it's in a subdirectory of home). Files that go in other directories should have a fully qualified path names, such as "/etc/profile".

Is a DT&T moderator insterested in doing this themselves or should we try and start something unofficial first?
_________________
Unregistered Linux User #17598363

pjp · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:28 am Post subject:

I think it would be good to get at least on thread on the config files going first.
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

Gherald2 · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:05 am Post subject:

by "a thread" do you mean for a particular, arbitrary config file?

or a bunch of unrelated ones lumped into a single thread?

assuming the former, something simple like /etc/profile might do; I'll try to come up with good initial submission.
_________________
Unregistered Linux User #17598363

qzec · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 89

This was an intresting idea, so stop neglecting it pjp.

Q

pjp · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 1:00 am Post subject:

Gherald: One config file per thread would probably be best, otherwise it'd get fairly confusing.

qzec · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 89

I think perhaps I wasn't clear causing you to misunderstand me...

I was talking about the idea of a forum section for user made configuration files, not necessary this thread itself. I know you might want people to post some files first before you decide if it was worth the effort but I was thinking maybe you should start it anyway. People might be more motivated when they a brand new forum section made just for configuration files.

The average forum user (maybe even the veterans) probably doesn't even know this thread exists so a new forum section would probably make them say, "Oh be still my beating heart!!

"

Well you get the picture... This is just my two cents.

**I also am still getting used to gentoo and such, so my configuration files aren't worth showing.

Q

pjp · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 1:31 am Post subject:

chevelle · n00b Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 19

Headrush · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:12 am Post subject:

pilla · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:40 am Post subject:

pjp · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:08 pm Post subject:

mpagano · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:04 pm Post subject:

How about a xorg.conf database with submissions to browse?

psyqil · Advocate Joined: 26 May 2003 Posts: 2767

Go right ahead:
http://gentoo-wiki.com/Index:XOrg