The developers of the openSUSE project invited users to take part in testing the new D-Installer. Installation images are prepared for x86_64 (598MB) and Aarch64/ARM64 (614MB) architectures. The downloaded image allows you to install three platforms: openSUSE Leap 15.4 stable release, openSUSE Tumbleweed rolling build, and Leap Micro 5.2 edition built on isolated containers (x86_64 only). In the future, the new installer is planned to be used in products based on the ALP (Adaptable Linux Platform), which will replace the SUSE Linux Enterprise distribution.
The new installer is notable for separating the user interface from the YaST internals and providing the ability to use a variety of front-ends, including a front-end for managing the installation via a web interface. YaST libraries continue to be used to install packages, check equipment, partition disks, and other functions necessary for installation, on top of which a layer is implemented that abstracts access to libraries through a unified D-Bus interface.
The basic interface for plant management is built using web technologies and includes a handler that provides access to D-Bus calls via HTTP, and the web interface itself. The web interface is written in JavaScript using the React framework and PatternFly components. The service for binding the interface to D-Bus, as well as the built-in http server, are written in Ruby and built using ready-made modules developed by the Cockpit project, which are also used in Red Hat web configurators. The installer uses a multi-process architecture that ensures that the user interface is not blocked while other work is being done.
Among the development goals of D-Installer are mentioned the elimination of existing limitations of the graphical interface, the expansion of the possibilities for using YaST functionality in other applications, avoiding being tied to one programming language (the D-Bus API will allow creating add-ons in different languages), and encouraging the creation of alternative settings by community members.
Source: opennet.ru