[cobalt-users] Creating your own gui

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Creating your own gui is easier than you think if you've got the 
skills.  Like just about anything else you do when you "program" a 
computer, you just break things down into small steps, and program one step 
at a time.

1.  Figure out what you want to do.

2.  Write and tests scripts to do it.  Lots of security issues; many of these
    scripts will be running as "root" (via setuid), many will reset or restart
    services, and some may even reboot the server.  But still all
    testable.

3.  Design a simple method (probably also a script) that will run the
    above scripts only when it gets a properly authenticated email.

4.  Create a foolproof authentication system so random emails can't
    change your system.

5.  Create a website to send that email to trigger everything.

The hard question is "Can I make sure this won't break the RaQ gui?  You 
may be able guarantee it.  I can write these so I think they don't brea the 
RaQ gui, but I'll never guarantee it.  I don't even think that Cobalt 
employees would feel too comfortable guaranteeing it.

And no, I won't go into too much more detail on the above; I'd be cutting 
into a core business of mine <smile>.

Jeff
--
Jeff Lasman, nobaloney.net
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