Webtools - Configure installed Unslung and other packages

[Styno]

I've been kinda quiet on this forum for a few weeks now. This had a reason, I was working on a project called: WebTools. I think this tool can be useful for everyone who's using (or planning to use) the Unslung ipkg packages.

If you're getting interested -> read on! For Linksys NSLU2 users: WebTools is also being developed for your device. In fact WebTools is developed for all embedded devices!

Introduction
With the Unslung packages available for the Linksys NSLU2 and Asus WL-500g, the owner of one of these has the opportunity to expand the functionality to the fullest.

While the original firmwares offer a webinterface to configure all the functionality of the device, when a user wants to install or configure an Unslung package he or she needs quite some experience with Linux commands to perform all the actions needed to install and configure the extra packages.

This is where WebTools steps in. It allows the user to easilly install and manage installed packages through a uniform webinterface.

Goal
The goal of WebTools is mainly to become a website for configuring installed and installing Unslung ipkg packages. In the long run WebTools might also be used as the default websetup in custom firmwares for devices like the Asus WL-500g and Linksys NSLU2.

The basic idea is to couple Unslung ipkg packages with a plugin for WebTools and require/advise the user to install the WebTools framework. This way, when a user adds an Unslung package to it’s setup, the package will automatically add a plugin to the plugin directory of the WebTool website. The WebTool framework will then automatically recognise the plugin and enable it for the user.

In short: WebTools is essentially a lightweight pluginable framework to which (3rd party) plugins can easily be added.

Still interested? You can find the WebTools project website here: http://webtools.wl500g.info

Discussion:
This topic has been started to get a discussion going about WebTools. This includes:
- Questions
- Remarks
- Bugreports
- Performance
- Feature requests etc.

Please don't edit the WIKI pages on http://webtools.wl500g.info yet.

Warning: There are going to be a lot of changes on the code for WebTools for a while. This also means that I cannot guarantee that 3rd party plugins continue to work in my next releases (Although I'm trying not to break existing code). The main goal of these (developer) releases is to get feedback on the general idea. Perhaps some of you are willing to put some time in creating your own plugins and report how they progress.

Oh, and one more thing: Please don't judge me on the PHP code produced until now. I'm not a professional webdeveloper

[Styno]

Version 0.2b is officially out

(Also removed all pre-release posts and move the thread to 'Custom development')

[tomilius]

GREAT WORK! The WL-500g is slowly but surely becoming one of the most powerful while still economical home routers available (well--its software is being vastly improved, anyway). And now, thanks to users like you, it's becoming user-friendly at the same time--something this router badly needs. Thanks for the hard work.

[Styno]

Well I'm enjoying the enormous amounts of feedback until now, LOL.

Seems like noone is using Unslung packages or has tried WebTools? C'mon folks talk to me; what do you think?

[hugo]

Maybe everybody is waiting for the 0.3 release? I'm interested in your project, but I don't need it right now, as I'm trying some other thinks like booting a PC over NFS on wl-hdd. I'll check with your next release, as I'll have more time for it. But don't worry, if you stop working on it, there will be complains

[Styno]

Maybe everybody is waiting for the 0.3 release? I'm interested in your project, but I don't need it right now, as I'm trying some other thinks like booting a PC over NFS on wl-hdd. I'll check with your next release, as I'll have more time for it. But don't worry, if you stop working on it, there will be complains

Well 0.3 release is a long way and will take quite some time as i'm only able to work on WebTools in the evenings and weekends. But if you (or anyone) want to support this project, just try it out and tell me what you think.

Edit: BTW, what interests you so much about 0.3 that you'll wait for that (I might change the order of implementation if required)?