This post reopens the discussion of end user customization of LiveOS spins, like Sugar on a Stick.
I've attached several patches to the bugzilla ticket, which breakdown the changes for somewhat easier review:
1. One each, for the new --copy-overlay and --copy-home options and
update to livecd-iso-to-disk.pod for help on usage.
2. Another pair for the --builder-message <message> and
--releasefile <filepath> options with .pod changes for help.
3. And finally a pair that addresses the new to have usage help within
the livecd-iso-to-disk shell script.
The --copy-overlay and --copy-home additions extend the utility of the script to allow the user/learner to replicate their personally modified image.
The --builder-message and --releasefile options label the remixed image to prevent confusion with the pristine versions, and to credit the builder for their changes.
Because the livecd-iso-to-disk script is so often redistributed in standalone fashion, it is worth the space and effort to include usage documentation and help in the script itself. This should help the general understanding of the script and its methods, given its presently-limited documentation.
In the 1st and 3rd patches, there are many white-space changes that I couldn't avoid in order to clarify the local variable name changes made to match the broader scope of the script (for example, $ISO to $SRC and $USBDEV to $TGTDEV). In addition, there are some block order changes that make use and documentation easier to follow.
This means that variables within the special double brackets need not be quoted and the old test-type operators -a -o should not be used.
I'm sorry that all the changes may make review more critical, but it was practically necessary.
Thank you for taking the time to review these proposed changes.
This is not the complete solution for end-user/learner customization of Sugar on a Stick. Some of the missing pieces might be listed:
1. Graphical interface support
that may provide this.)
2. An option to install a traditional filesystem on devices with
sufficient storage capacity.
3. Overlay space consumption monitoring. (Sugar Cellar, in
a basic, command-line report.)
3. An option to write LiveOS .iso files for quick and inexpensive
mass distribution.
4. Support for Macintosh compatible booting and replication.
The 'More robust iso', http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/More_robust_iso, feature proposal can be aided by some of the installation options available in livecd-iso-to-disk. In particular, using the --home-size-mb <size> option creates a non-compressed (but loop mounted) filesystem for the home directory.
SoaS deployments in schools may want to configure images without any operating system overlay (providing consistency and stability) and use the extra, persistent storage space for recoverable home directory storage that can be easily backed up, shared, or swapped (by remounting the /home folder). This would allow convenient and rapid sharing of limited workstations in a classroom, library, or clubhouse all without the need to reboot the workstation.
We can work to add a Sugar Frame or Journal feature to restart X with a new, Sugar-usable Journal within attached filesystems. I expect there will be some confusion as plug-in or wireless Journals allow Learners to appropriate more computing devices in a way previously not possible.
--Fred