(NOTE: sorry text formatting is not working.)
Roberts said: "The arguments against modularity in the base escape me".
I add: Me too and more!
Just a 'tiny' flashback.
1- Tinycore started by being tiny and modular, so faster to load and download.
2- then came Microcore, a natural step towards greater modularity, and more identifiable core.
3- then the concept of 'kit' came loudly to surface, and part of the logo.
4- then... this thread... Can 'Tinycore' reach the 'core' ?
I think we're getting closer to what 'Tinycore' had to be: a collection of bricks that can be glued together, easily, instantly. A morphing, elastic Linux distro. With a result that's only decided by the user-builder.
We all know that this approach is not new. Many had already done it in a way or another. But they failed somewhere. Let me rather say they didn't reach what TC can accomplish now: total modularity. From top to bottom.
It's not a market, segment or niche problem. ( anyway I think it's a hobby in the first place, and after all if an identifiable market is necessary to survive, by being a brick, glue and distro builder, TC can be served and satisfy nearly any niche/segment/market...).
That's why I urge you to don't hesitate longer to split anything that can be splitted and modularized.
I suggested that the base be splitted into what's TC and what's not.
Either it is a gz a tcz or whatever. The most important thing is that a 'brick' could be replaced by another one that can do similar or improved functionnality in the chain. ( Is it feasable to split that much? yes it is, ).
I see a re-construction of Mc as:
LnxBase+TCBase
I see a re-construction of Tc as:
LnxBase+TCBase+Xserver+XWm+Xprogs+...
or
Mc+Xserver+TCX+...
So Updating/changing or replacing one brick of the chain is straight and will bring instantly a different flavor to life.
Actually the only bricks that are not yet one are LnxBase and TCBase.
Finally, those who are worried about Tc/Mc iso, etc... I think these can be easily provided on a page on the web site, with 'the flavor of the day'!.
Regards