Re: this conf doesnt work. Why ?

[Thorsten Wilms]

On 17.03.2018 21:46, Catonano wrote:
> the machine boots, but it doesn't start a desktop environment, SLIM 
> doesn't come up
>
> If I login as root, startx isn't available
>
> What's wrong with this definition ?

> (use-modules (gnu) (gnu system nss))
> (use-modules (gnu packages tryton))
> (use-modules (gnu packages databases))
> ;(use-modules (gnu packages xorg))
> (use-modules (gnu services xorg))

You don't have to repeat the use-modules form, it can be used like this:
(use-modules (gnu)
             (gnu system nss)
             (gnu packages tryton)
             (gnu packages databases)
             (gnu packages xorg))

I'm actually surprised the other way works, but noticed it appears for 
"Globally-Visible Packages" at:
https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/manual/html_node/Using-the-Configuration-System.html


> (use-service-modules desktop)
> (use-package-modules certs gnome)
> ;(use-service-modules databases)
>
> ;(use-service-modules trytond)

> (define %my-services
>    (modify-services
>     (cons* (gnome-desktop-service)
>        (cons*
>         (service agetty-service-type
>              (agetty-configuration (tty "ttyS0")))
>         %desktop-services))
>     (slim-service-type config =>
>                (slim-configuration
>                 (inherit config)
>                 (startx (xorg-start-command
>                  #:configuration-file
>                  (xorg-configuration-file
>                   ;; Setup X to use a swiss german keyboard layout.
>                   #:extra-config
>                   '("Section \"InputClass\"
>          Identifier \"keyboard-all\"
>          Option \"XkbLayout\" \"ch\" ; <~ replace \"ch\" with \"it\"
>          MatchIsKeyboard \"on\"
> EndSection"))))))))

Why do you use one level of indirection for no gain? This can go into 
services, directly.

That modify-services looks very suspicious. Why the nested cons*?
modify-services should be fed with one list of services, followed by 
(type variable => body) clauses, like in:


(modify-services %desktop-services
  (mingetty-service-type config =>
    (mingetty-configuration
      (inherit config)
      (motd (plain-file "motd" "Howdy FOSDEM!"))))
  (upower-service-type config =>
    (upower-configuration
      (inherit config)
      (ignore-lid? #true)
      (percentage-critical 5.))))


modify-services %desktop-services
 (udev-service-type config =>
   (udev-configuration (inherit config)
    (rules (append (udev-configuration-rules config)
                   (list %example-udev-rule))))))


Aside of that, I wonder if you have to put the xorg server into either 
global packages, or install it for root.


> (operating-system
>    (host-name "antelope")
>    (timezone "Europe/Paris")
>    (locale "it_IT.utf8")
>
>    ;;This is to be able to login into a guest system
>    (kernel-arguments '("console=ttyS0"))
>
>    ;; Assuming /dev/sdX is the target hard disk, and "my-root"
>    ;; is the label of the target root file system.
>    (bootloader (grub-configuration (target "/dev/sda")))
>
>    (file-systems (cons (file-system
>                          (device "my-root")
>                          (title 'label)
>                          (mount-point "/")
>                          (type "ext4")
>
>                        )
>                        %base-file-systems))
>
>    (users (cons (user-account
>                  (name "catonano")
>          (password (crypt " " "ab"))
>                  (comment "Alice's brother")
>                  (group "users")
>                  (supplementary-groups '("wheel" "netdev"
>                                          "audio" "video"))
>                  (home-directory "/home/catonano"))
>                 %base-user-accounts))

(crypt " " "ab") looks suspicious to me, but I haven't read up on how it 
should be used.


>    ;; This is where we specify system-wide packages.
>    (packages (cons* nss-certs         ;for HTTPS access
>                     gvfs              ;for user mounts
>             ;;python-trytond
>             ;;tryton
>             ;;postgresql
>                     %base-packages))
>
>    ;; Add GNOME and/or Xfce---we can choose at the log-in
>    ;; screen with F1.  Use the "desktop" services, which
>    ;; include the X11 log-in service, networking with Wicd,
>    ;; and more.
>
>    (services %my-services)
>
>    ;; Allow resolution of '.local' host names with mDNS.
>    (name-service-switch %mdns-host-lookup-nss))


--
Thorsten Wilms

thorwil's design for free software:
http://thorwil.wordpress.com/