It would be nice if I could have an “Agile Project in a Box” Linux distro or “megaframework .deb file” based on Ubuntu with Subversion, Trac, Buildbot (the Python equivalent of CruiseControl), Selenium, and Mail/News/Forum/Feeds software (Gmane?) all pre-installed and ready to go for “Iteration Zero” on a new project. You could even wrap it up into a VMware image for the recently made-free VMWare Player and post it here ( http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/vm/) . Bonus points for having it pre-integrated with PostgreSQL, Python 2.4, and Django.
Sure, you could get the same effect by just opening a new account at one of the more enlightened hosting sites like TextDrive, Zettai, or Python-Hosting. However, I’m sure lots of in-house software developers (myself included) feel that the need to control the software on their own servers is greater than the desire to outsource the whole thing to a 3rd party. And in some cases (due to security policies or privacy concerns), outsourcing this stuff is impossible.
So forget SaaS (Software as a Service)… I want AdiaB (Agile Development in a Box). To make money on the idea, it could be like a Joyent connector, but just for software development teams. It could even come pre-integrated with a free BaseCamp account!
LiveCDs probably wouldn’t work in production for one simple reason: software updates. If you used a Live CD for your production server and had to reboot… you’d have to download the same patches and fixes for your system everytime. If those updates are security related, it would be too risky to boot without them. However, for just casually trying out the software, LiveCDs are great.
I imagine my “Agile Dev in a Box” distro would be installed like any operating system, or installed in a VirtualPC or VMWare partition on an existing Linux or Windows server, or come pre-installed on a server from “AgileInABox, Inc”
Link | December 2nd, 2005 at 6:56 pm
Would livecd work or does it need to integrate to exisiting system?
Link | December 2nd, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Right, how about installing a livecd onto a hard drive?
Link | December 3rd, 2005 at 8:51 am
Sure, installing a liveCD onto a hard drive would work, but then how is this different than a normal “install” CD?
Link | December 3rd, 2005 at 1:09 pm
You can use it to test/showcase stuff and afterwards people can also install it.
It is not much different from normal installaton. Just different distribution method.
Link | December 3rd, 2005 at 8:42 pm
Yes, I’m not disagreeing that a liveCD is good for trying out or showcasing stuff. In fact, Django could be easier to install and setup. (I’m sure this will be improved in time, whether “AdiaB” is the solution or not.)
Howerer, my point is AdiaB is useful for setting up the permanent core infrastructure for an agile project. This always takes the first week or so of an agile project. Once the software is installed, mailing lists setup, cruise control and subversion and trac properly configured… only then can you actually begin writing real code. AdiaB wouldn’t primarily be used for demos and showcases (although I see how it could be used for that)… the primary purpose is three-fold: 1) Reduce the time it takes to setup a new project to just a few hours, 2) Automating tedious manual tasks that bring me no joy, like configuring Trac, Subversion, etc… 3) By automating the tasks, I reduce the chance for human error.
Link | December 4th, 2005 at 2:43 pm
This might be helpful…
http://www.informatik.fh-muenchen.de/~schieder/ubuntu-livecd-customize/
Link | December 5th, 2005 at 5:59 pm
JanC, yes that’s helpful. Thanks!
Link | December 6th, 2005 at 5:40 pm
Any thoughts on http://duckdown.blogspot.com/2005/12/software-development-has-absolutely.html
Link | December 20th, 2005 at 8:27 am
A $1000 box would be cheaper than losing a week for setup and configuration. Where is your order form?
Link | December 28th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
I am old and stupid now, and I learn very slowly. 20 years ago, I was a fairly slick Forth and Firmware man; I wrote the code that controlled scientific instruments.
Many decades passed, and I did more writing and industry research….but I wanted to create a killer web app. I found Ruby on Rails, and I am still finding it a long climb after being out the game for so long.
Whay not just a development system that you can yell into a michrophone and say, “Heeeyyyyyy, mista computah….I wanna portal for open dispatching of tow trucks and mpbile locksmiths for the auction trade?”
Link | January 18th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
Viva La Chipperfish » Agile Development in a Box, part 2. wrote:
[...] 2. Filed under: python, development — Jason Huggins @ 4:25 am It looks like my dream has come true. Great job, Jim! [via Blue Sky on Mars] [...]
Link | June 29th, 2006 at 4:28 am
http://buildix.thoughtworks.com/
;)
Link | July 15th, 2006 at 7:13 pm