SystemRestore

Differences between revisions 1 and 2
Revision 1 as of 2006-11-05 06:21:28
Size: 24
Editor: c-69-251-20-244
Comment: new spec
Revision 2 as of 2006-11-05 06:37:29
Size: 2429
Editor: c-69-251-20-244
Comment: new spec!
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
Line 2: Line 2:

||<tablestyle="float:right; font-size: 0.9em; width:40%; background:#F1F1ED; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" style="padding:0.5em;">'''Contents'''[[BR]][[TableOfContents]]||

 * '''Launchpad Entry''': https://features.launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/system-restore
 * '''Created''': 11/05/2006 by towsonu2003
 * '''Contributors''': towsonu2003
 * '''Packages affected''': Ubuntu

== Summary ==

Ubuntu should backup the system configurations every time an important configuration file was tweaked or a package was installed / upgraded (the "Windows Style", sorry to say) and restore the system upon request to the last known sane time.

== Rationale ==

 * The user should feel free to play around with her/his system, being more or less sure that "System Restore" will save her/him from big trouble
 * The user should be confident that if an upgrade break something due to bad [https://features.launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/security-update-qa QA], the system will be able to recover.

== Use cases ==

 * Usage1: I install xgl. It borks my X but I do not remember what kind of tweaks I did. I hit "Restore System" under System > Administration and all is back

 * Usage2: An upgrade breaks my system and borks dpkg. I hit "System Restore" and my system is back.

 * Usage3: I will upgrade to Firefox2 using a custom repository. I hit "Create System Restore Point" worrying that it might break my good old Firefox.

 * Usage4: I dist-upgraded from 6.06 to 6.10... Ubuntu created a "System Restore Point" before the dist-upgrade in case it breaks the system. It broke my system indeed. I hit "System Restore" and my working 6.06 is back.

== Scope ==

The feature enables users to trust their system's stability:

 * Upgrades cannot bork the system
 * Dist-upgrades cannot bork the system
 * A bad package cannot bork the system
 * An X breakage can easily recovered from
 * Complex customizations of the system can easily be undone

== Implementation ==



== Outstanding issues ==

 * "System Restore" may be copyrighted and / or patented by Microsoft... We might need to find a new name, or even a new way to back up the system.
 * Hard Disk space usage: backing up system configuration files and old deb packages will force us to increase minimum hdd space standards (of a new install) if this feature is enabled...

== Discussion ==


CategorySpec

Summary

Ubuntu should backup the system configurations every time an important configuration file was tweaked or a package was installed / upgraded (the "Windows Style", sorry to say) and restore the system upon request to the last known sane time.

Rationale

Use cases

  • Usage1: I install xgl. It borks my X but I do not remember what kind of tweaks I did. I hit "Restore System" under System > Administration and all is back

  • Usage2: An upgrade breaks my system and borks dpkg. I hit "System Restore" and my system is back.
  • Usage3: I will upgrade to Firefox2 using a custom repository. I hit "Create System Restore Point" worrying that it might break my good old Firefox.
  • Usage4: I dist-upgraded from 6.06 to 6.10... Ubuntu created a "System Restore Point" before the dist-upgrade in case it breaks the system. It broke my system indeed. I hit "System Restore" and my working 6.06 is back.

Scope

The feature enables users to trust their system's stability:

  • Upgrades cannot bork the system
  • Dist-upgrades cannot bork the system
  • A bad package cannot bork the system
  • An X breakage can easily recovered from
  • Complex customizations of the system can easily be undone

Implementation

Outstanding issues

  • "System Restore" may be copyrighted and / or patented by Microsoft... We might need to find a new name, or even a new way to back up the system.
  • Hard Disk space usage: backing up system configuration files and old deb packages will force us to increase minimum hdd space standards (of a new install) if this feature is enabled...

Discussion

CategorySpec

SystemRestore (last edited 2009-01-04 14:38:52 by 78-86-59-105)