[development] Summer of Code 2007 Idea - Drupal software appliance

[Allister Beharry]

Hello all,
I'll be participating in SoC 07 and I'd appreciate it if I can get
some feedback on my idea for a project with Drupal. Here is the
synopsis:

My project idea for SoC 2007 is a Drupal software appliance – a
self-contained virtual image consisting of a minimal Linux
environment, a LAMP stack, and Drupal 5.1  – which can be distributed
as a bootable LiveCD or virtual machine image which can be run on
virtualization software like VMware Player or MS Virtual PC.

At ~50Mb or less, a Drupal appliance is a perfect way for potential
users with no system administration experience to evaluate Drupal.
Advocacy for Drupal can be extended by distributing the Live CD with
magazines and in trade shows. Drupal companies and consultants can
rapidly prototype and demonstrate a Drupal a solution to their clients
starting with the base appliance image. Drupal admins can easily test
module patches before deployment to live sites. The virtual machine
image can also be part of an automated testing framework by utilizing
the scripting capabilities of virtualization software like VMware
Server.

This project can build on existing LiveDistro images from Knoppix or
Damn Small Linux, and virtual appliance images like those from Virtual
Appliance (http://virtualappliances.net/products/lamp/). The main
tasks will be:
1.Collecting requirements from the Drupal community;
2.Building the target environment;
3.Installing and integrating Drupal and necessary modules;
4.Comprehensive testing of the entire appliance;
5.Coding hooks in the virtualization software for use of the appliance
by automated testing tools;
6.Promotion and obtaining distribution channels for the release of the
appliance.

Thanks a lot.
Allister