Standardise Best linux practice

[FredericGuilbault]

Hi, I would like to open a broad discussion about the best way to install/integrate SignalK on linux.

One of my objective it to standardize the way different projects integrate it to avoid work duplication and conflicting results.

The other objective is to determine best practices from OS point of view.

[FredericGuilbault]

Let's open this with: Where to store config files ? :)

From my technical perspective SignalK is a webserver(and more) I don't see it a user level app, it's a system service equals to nginx or mysql or pureftp. I don't see any usecase where It would make sense to run 2 instances on the same machine. Have you seen some?

[tkurki]

I for one welcome setting the server properly in linux environments. The way things are now is more by accident than by any grand design. Very early on @mxtommy, the author of Kip webapp, coaxed us towards proper packaging, but that never gained momentum. No disagreement with the server being a daemon, not a user application.

So where should everything be? This is what we are talking about (in addition to the server code in global node_modules)

• server settings (multiple files), including settings for different plugins and application data storage
• plugins' internal data
• logged data files

[FredericGuilbault]

The linux FHS is quite opinionated about where files should be (configs in /etc/, logs in /var/log, appdata in /var/lib. To answer the question). But it's also about what make sense for people that package it.

Personally, my concerns are about

• having a dedicated user with minimal perms to run the signalk-server for security. As most others linux`s daemon have.
• non-interactive installs
• and avoiding configs files in /home/*/.
  I'm also dubious about if a nodejs based app would need a Debian package or not. Mainly around the integration of .service file.

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I must say I opened this convo thinking I would have time to contribute to modification. But an unexpected big contract just got signed yesterday and all my free time is gone for the next 3 months...

[tkurki]

would have time to contribute...free time is gone for the next 3 months

No worries! it is more than likely that this issue will be waiting for your contribution in 3 months time! Unless somebody else steps up to the plate...