Former Red Hat executives are behind a commercial package management tool said to facilitate system modifications better than dpkg or rpm. The 2003 startup Specifix says its “Conary” tool enables even heavily modified systems to track upstream versions easily, and the company will market a version to embedded Linux developers.

A high percentage of embedded Linux developers base their projects on packaged distributions such as Debian and Red Hat, according to reader surveys conducted by LinuxDevices.com. Developers like packaged distributions because they provide a somewhat pre-tested basis for development, compared with rolling your own Linux from scratch. Thus, many embedded Linux developers may welcome the new tool, if it can increase the turnaround time for software updates by automating some of the manual processes typically involved in merging and mapping modified system software onto updated upstream versions. Specifix could not be reached for comment about when the embedded version of Conary will launch.

CVS + RPM + XYZ = Conary

Specifix describes Conary as a “distribution-building tool” aimed at letting developers take advantage of the ability to modify open source systems, while still enabling them to track upstream versions.

According to Specifix, Conary is based on a software repository that can be distributed across a network. The repository can store source code, as well as files from traditional software packages (.debs and .rpms). It stores only one version of files found in multiple packages. The repository provides version control, using a concise naming scheme supporting concurrent branches, the company says. In addition to branches, Conary supports an interesting new “shadow” layer.

The shadow layer enables modified files to track upstream changes, Specifix says, making it simpler to maintain things like kernel patches, site-specific configuration options, file permission changes, and package cruft-trims. The shadow layer is said to reduce the need to manually re-implement modifications after system upgrade cycles. The shadow layer automates merges, even within files, then provides the developer an opportunity to make adjustments before committing the shadow layer.

Site- or host-specific configurations are stored in “changesets,” which allow Conary to take a more granular approach to system updates than traditional package tools. Instead of pushing entire package trees onto the system, Conary uses changesets to apply only those package files that have changed. Changesets require less space than traditional package archives, and save bandwidth and/or installation time whether upgrading from a Conary repository, CD, or network-based sources, Specifix says.

Thus, Conary appears to aim toward providing developers with a power concurrent version control system, providing system administrators with a network-based provisioning system, and providing technical end-users with a more flexible package management system.

According to a story at CNet, the client version of Conary will be distributed under IBM's Common Open Source license. The server version will also have an open source license, but details have not yet been finalized.

The Red Hat connection

Specifix was founded by two former high-ranking officials at Red Hat.

Kim Knuttila, formerly a VP of Engineering Services at Red Hat, arrived at Red Hat via its 1999 acquisition of compiler and embedded development house Cygnus. Knuttila oversaw Red Hat's embedded development services, currently looked after by James Prasad.

Erik Troan, former chief developer and VP of product engineering at Red Hat, was responsible for rpm, among other tools and services. He left the company in 2002 as the senior director of marketing.

Specifix will present a paper entitled “New Approaches in Software Provisioning and System Maintenance” at the 2004 Ottawa Linux Symposium July 21-24. A whitepaper about Conary is also available online.

In addition to Conary, Specifix markets customized GNU tool chains and professional services around GNU/Linux. It also distributes a version of Linux that showcases the Conary tools.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.