| desc: | Build FreeBSD systems from scratch |
|---|
It is nearly 2014, and this system has built my personal workstations and a fair number of production / development servers for many years.
However, it is showing its age (the code here still tries to use CVS for heaven's sake.) So I am revamping it, into the modern age of ... saltstack
The aim is still the same - to build a viable, usable FreeBSD workstation that allows me to "just get on with it".
I have a few "must haves", a few "really really must haves" and a couple of "OMG, I will die without".
I discuss these here.
A workstation is no longer the be-all and end-all of a developer's world. The Personal Computer has given in to the Personal "Network is the Computer" and that has made many things more awkward as well as more valuable.
Basically that means I am not giving up my smartphone and need access to all my stuff on several different machines. Which complicates life.
I also want to have a degree of expected security.
So I want :
- Secure-ish
- Reliable
- Mobile
- Configurable
General idea:
- use freebsd-update to keep the base system right
- proper firewall use
- use salt-stack to manage the application / ports layer
Install FreeBSD from .img COnfigure networking
Build minimal salt-ready environment
ports fetch build git, python install salt run the minions
Easy way:
pkg_add -r python
- Latest, security patched, BSD sources / binaries for Kernel and Userland
- Well thought out and configured third-party applications
- A sensible way to manage those applications
- GSM->Ethernet adaptor
- Wifi (Gulp - me, BSD and WiFi do not mix well)
- X
- emacs, ansi-colour terminals
- contact management solution
- VoIP / Skype
http://jcooney.net/archive/2007/02/01/42999.aspx. Its funny. see also http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000818.html.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feature_interaction_problem - which is referenced from the wise article - http://the-programmers-stone.com/2008/06/23/dirty-little-secrets-response-to-grady-booch/