Mageia basesystem-uml

[kensor]

Would some one here be so kind as to write a few basic sentences about the Mageia basesystem-uml? I understand UML to refer to a uniform modeling language to assist in developing relatively larger software applications and systems. I have not yet installed the basesystem-uml package, and I wonder, since its instructions say it should never be removed, what changes it makes to a standard Mageia system. Is the basesystem-uml a replacement for the standard basesystem, or is it an adjunct to it? What capabilities does the uml package provide? What software can, or should, be used directly with the uml software? Is this software linked interactively to the basesystem-uml, or is it just development tools that may be used independently? Obviously, I am not an expert at UML, but I am learning C++, and I can envision this might be a useful tool, but I am concerned about adding unremovable software without knowing more about its characteristics, uses, and maintenance needs. Thanks.

[ahmad]

I think basesystem-uml is an old relic, as I don't see a kernel-uml anywhere in the repos...

[kensor]

Thanks for your reply including mention of an older kernel. Apparently my TLA (three letter acronym) assumption that the uml in the basesystem name referred to Unified Modeling Language was incorrect, and that it actually has something to do with a minimal system installation. One list of comments about the package I read contained a remark that so little was known about the package that it did not include a file list of its contents. Beyond file lists for packages, it seems to me that a terminology glossary related to the distribution, and a list file names and their purposes, neither of which would be buried inside some code that is opaque to non-programmers, would be an improvement toward reaching out to potential users, not to mention useful for existing ones.

[ahmad]

The basesystem-* packages are meta packages, i.e. empty packages whose sole purpose is to require other packages.

e.g. task-gnome-minimal is an empty package, that requires/suggests the packages necessary to have a working GNOME desktop.

[GlennsPref]

Hi, thanks for your question.

I too have wondered what that package was for and also have never tried to install it (basesystem-uml).

I had a quick look and found this page,

http://user-mode-linux.sourceforge.net/

Seems to be a safe sandbox environment for testing and dev.

Thankyou, Glenn