Arch Linux installer written in OCaml

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Hello,

I’m doing a short update here as Oali has seen some significant changes. This update is also the last one here to avoid being too annoying, and also since I won’t be add too much new stuff to Oali in foreseeable future.

Major changes since last time

  • SaltStack files and script files (or profiles) now live in a separate repo
    • Oali accepts custom profile repo URL to facilitate using your own SaltStack files without forking Oali itself
  • Semi self-documentation
    • Added mechanism to facilitate inline documentation inside oali.ml itself
    • The generated markdown doc is stored as OALI_DOC in repo, it lists all the steps (or tasks) Oali does, along with descriptions
  • Added LVM support
    • Works with all 3 disk layouts, and encryption
    • See here for details on added logical volumes
  • Answer remembering of dialogues when appropriate
    • Relatively static answers (e.g. hostname, whether to use encryption, LVM) are stored in oali_answers directory, with a JSON file for each task
    • The “answer store” can be used in new session of Oali. The old answer store is wiped accordingly if user changes their answer.
  • Added SSH server setup and public key transfer code (ported from old server bash script)
    • See here for details
    • Mainly useful for when you have (virtual) console access to live CD/Oali install screen, and want to add needed public key to the user’s .ssh/authorized_keys via network instead of loading from physical medium

I’ve used Oali to install in various configurations in past couple of days, and have yet to notice major defects. That being said, exercise caution as you would for installing an OS.

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