A more efficient up2date service using binary diffs

[Jeff Johnson]

Joe Desbonnet wrote:

>I'm currenly focusing on improving the download time for clients over
>limited bandwidth connections... so perhaps there is a bigger picture
>which I'm ignoring (eg mirror updates).
>  
>

rdiff is more than mirror fodder, produces a file on the client that is 
sent to
server, which can then produce a delta that is sent back to the client. The
uploaded file and the downloaded delta are way smaller than the original
file, and the advantage is that the delta can be generated without both 
packages
resident on the same machine.

>I would propose that a tool build the delta repository. No need for
>humans to get involved in that activity.
>  
>

Humans are always involved, and deltas are gonna add a large number of files
that need to be produced, tested, maintained, and otherwise handled.

>I would also propose that only deltas against the RPMs in the original
>distribution are produced.
>  
>

Sure you can make up rules that simplify the problem. Not gonna work in 
practice,
there is too much diversity for "original distribution" to satisfy a 
majority of users imho.

73 de Jeff