This relates to the discussions in
* #1205640: Implementation and criteria to differentiate user-focused distributions or products from other distributions
* #1349782: Create an initial list of distributions to populate listing page
* #1314124: [META] Improve installation profile listing on Drupal.org

RE the difference b/w Installation Profiles and Distributions (and the issue in #1205640): technically, they're identical, but to the end user, they're completely distinct.

Really, it's more of a semantic issue - "Install profile" is both a technical process and a downloadable set of modules and themes.

As we address this, we probably should come up with a different name for the "downloadable thing that is not a Distribution" -

How about:

  • Kickstarter - a package of modules, themes, and some general config designed to kickstart/standardize a set of development tools
  • Distribution - a set of modules, themes, and specialized config designed as a nearly complete solution to a well-defined use case
  • Installation profile - scripts that run once when Drupal is installed

Kickstarters and Distributions are things that can be downloaded. The install profile is the process used by both Kickstarters and Distros.

Comments

juan_g’s picture

juan_g commented

Since the difference between installation profiles and distributions is also involved here, this is related to #1349778: Create a page that explains what the heck distributions are ;)

sun’s picture

sun
Primary language German
Location Karlsruhe
commented
Status: Active » Closed (won't fix)

#1314124-32: [META] Improve installation profile listing on Drupal.org
#1205640-43: Implementation and criteria to differentiate user-focused distributions or products from other distributions

bonobo’s picture

bonobo commented
Title: Distinguish between the two possible meaning of "Install profile" » Improve documentation to clarify the different meanings of "Install profile"
Assigned: Unassigned » bonobo
Status: Closed (won't fix) » Active

Reopening, updating to a more accurate title, and assigning to me.

bonobo’s picture

bonobo commented
Status: Active » Needs review

After thinking this through, and reading a few other threads, and seeing Angie's edit in #1205640-45: Implementation and criteria to differentiate user-focused distributions or products from other distributions, we can keep this simple:

* Install profile - the script that runs once when Drupal is installed
* Products - a collection of modules, themes, 3rd party libraries, etc that are collected together to meet a specific need or use case.

Products can be targeted toward developers or end users; this delineation should be addressed in the product description and the tags associated with the product.

bonobo’s picture

bonobo commented
Status: Needs review » Closed (won't fix)

Closing this out, as these details will likely get built (or painted over) as folks craft the bikeshed at #1357806: Decide a name for user-focused distributions/products