Sunday, January 15, 2017

NORD Rationale

NORD Rationale


A few days ago (this is mid January 2017), I added a rationale section to the NORD Linux intro document. I've given a lot of thought to the "why should anyone bother?" question with respect to NORD. The project has become an obsession, but I find objective reasons to continue using it. It's not just a hobby but a tool for other work.

Two systems handling web traffic and other services for casita.net are NORD systems. Those are Buckeyes and ltroth1. There are other systems where NORD runs in 'chroot' handling some workloads within that jail. So the environment has become significant within this domain.


Showcase for Other Projects


NORD didn't start out as yet another distro. Projects like simply recompiling the Linux kernel added to a collection. The collection grew into a usable system. It reached critical mass and could sustain real work. That seems to be still its primary purpose. It is the stage where other projects perform.

CSCRATCH is the project which [re]builds the core operating system. It's unique to NORD (though it's not exclusively for Linux). Chicory is more widely effective. Both are just wrappers around the standard recipe.

NORD is my primary platform for hardening activities: reliability, auditability, servicability, as well as penetration defense. There are also growing concerns about trusting trust. (Sure, I'm paranoid. But am I paranoid enough?)


Serious about Source


I've been working with Free and Open Source software for most of my career. At this point, the pay-for and proprietary software that puts food on my table depends inseparably on FOSS. 

Ironically, the rise in use of FOSS throughout the industry has not led to a corresponding use of source code at delivery points. The Linux distributors and forward looking software vendors have done such a good job of embracing FOSS and making it drop-in usable that their customers don't need to actually use the source. But it's tech debt. 

As long as the providers do the right thing, their customers can proceed with their own business and focus on more important details of that operation. And most vendors/distributors are doing the right thing and will likely continue. But take note, be aware, and get ready. Consider source code as part of your business continuity plan. 

NORD can be acquired and used without ever worrying about source or compiling or building. (Compared to "real" distributions it's really rough and I presume the consumer knows traditional Unix.) But NORD is designed to be re-built in a pinch. NORD can assimilate an update or  patch faster than any other Linux implementation. (In recent history was Shell Shock which NORD handled no delays: as soon as patches were available, just recompile.) 


Summary in Three Ss


Rationale for NORD solidifies into simplicity, showcase, and source code. 

Now I need to get others interested. A half dozen friends have lent a hand over the course of this saga. A couple of them have been able to make use of the deliverables. We need more participants. (We at least need people to hammer on the build logic, test the results, find bugs and maybe squash them.) 
Wanna help?


-- R; <><