Re: [Qemu-devel] news on the OS X cocoa port

[Mike Kronenberg]

[snip]

> > Right now I'm using .plist(property lists), which is very common in 
> > OS X, because you can read them back directly in to an Array or a 
> > Dictionaty. It's a standardized XML File.
> > I'm a big fan of XML, but I'm also very much Intrested in having a 
> > compatible package over all platforms.
> > I see advantage in XML, because it's a lot more flexible and accurat 
> > in storing your Data - well it was defined exactly for that pourpose :)
>
>
> Fully agree.
>
> > My packages look like this:
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/Freedos.qemu/configuration.plist
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/Freedos.qemu/hda.img
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/Freedos.qemu/saved.vm
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/Freedos.qemu/thumbnail.png
> > or:
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/ReactOS 15412.qemu/configuration.plist
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/ReactOS 15412.qemu/hda.img
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/ReactOS 15412.qemu/saved.vm
> > ~/Documents/QEMU/ReactOS 15412.qemu/thumbnail.png
>
>
> What about .qvm instead of .qemu ?

Ok for me.

> > They can nicely be ziped.
> >
> > A sample configuration .plist:
> > <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
> > <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" 
> > "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd";>
> > <plist version="1.0">
> >    <dict>
> >        <key>-boot</key>
> >        <string>1</string>
> >        <key>-cdrom</key>
> >        <string></string>
> >        <key>-fda</key>
> >        <string></string>
> >        <key>-hda</key>
> >        <string>/Users/mike/Documents/qemu/images/2gb_win2k.img</string>
> >        <key>-m</key>
> >        <string>128</string>
> >        <key>cpu</key>
> >        <string>0</string>
> >        <key>custom</key>
> >        <string></string>
> >        <key>name</key>
> >        <string>win2ksp4</string>
> >        <key>status</key>
> >        <string>shutdown</string>
> >    </dict>
> > </plist>
>
>
> I assume <key>cpu</key> is the system the image is designed for, f.e. 
> x86? What about some additional keys like author, date of creation, 
> email if someone f.e. downloaded the image from the web and has 
> problems getting it to run?!

This is right from Q, so its no real proposal, just to show the 
advantages of xml. cpu stands for the guest PC architekture.

I would propose 4 dicts in a containing dict:
- Description (PC Name, Platform)
- Arguments (with the real qemu arguments)
- Author (FreeOSZoo go go go!)
- Temp (to store temporary "nice to have" hints for a specific port)

> Hey, FreeOSZoo'ers, what do you think would be also nice to save in 
> the xml regarding distribution on your platform?
> According to your site:
>
> ToDO List:
> [...]
>
>    1. Create a FreeOSZoo hotdelivery XML format, gathering all
>       information needed to download and install FreeOSZoo images. We
>       hope that the FreeOSZoo hotdelivery XML format will allow the
>       next generation of QEMU GUIs to connect to a distribution site
>       and download the needed files automatically. We plan the XML
>       file to deliver the following information:
>           * Available mirrors for download
>           * Bittorent <http://bitconjurer.org/BitTorrent> trackers
>           * Host operating systems requirements
>           * Guest operating systems requirements
>           * List of free software bundled
>           * Upgrading facilities over the Internet
>           * Targeted audience (home use, ...)
>           * Links to a gallery of screenshots
>           * Links to tutorials and help systems
>           * Links to live video presentations
[snip]

Mike