Simplify deployment by embedding assets into library.

[meiersi]

Hi Johan,

we would like to use ekg at Erudify to monitor services deployed in our cloud. However, it's reliance on extra data files makes deploying applications built using it unnecessarily difficult. The attached patch uses the file-embed library to embed the necessary assets directly into the ekg library at compile time.

It would be great, if you could change ekg to use this scheme. If required, then I can add either a cabal flag that allows to compile without embedding the files, or I can add an additional argument to startServer, which allows to specify the assets directory. I guess one would typically use the latter for development of the default monitor or for using a simple custom monitor. However, I do expect that for almost all use cases this direct embedding of the assets is the most convenient option.

What do you think?

best regards,
Simon

[tibbe]

Hi Simon,

See #8 for previous discussion on this topic. The short version is that I want to avoid TH where possible, as it leads to all kinds of headaches (e.g. when cross-compiling).

You can already specify the datadir of any cabal program by using the <packname>_datadir (e.g. ekg_datadir) environment variable. The code that implements this feature lives in https://github.com/haskell/cabal/blob/master/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/Build/PathsModule.hs . Does this help?

[meiersi]

Hi Johan,

thanks for the reference to #8. I was looking for it, but overlooked the closed pull-requests. I understand your concern with respect to using template haskell, and I also agree that in the long-term we might need a better deployment solution. However, just deploying static binary files does have its appeals.

What about making the fully embedded option configurable via a cabal flag? The code changes would be very limited and people would gain an easier way for using/deploying ekg enabled services.

[meiersi]

Hi Johan,

we discussed the issue internally and decided that we'll handle it for now by maintaining our custom fork until we have gathered more experience.

Thanks for your time,
Simon

[mwotton]

my 2c - it would be nice if ekg at least told you "hey, i can't find my data dir, you're gonna have a bad time". I don't mind handling the assets dir myself, but it's a pain to have to track down.

[tibbe]

Good idea. I won't be able to implement it until after my vacation I'm
afraid.
On Jun 13, 2013 11:29 PM, "Mark Wotton" notifications@github.com wrote:

my 2c - it would be nice if ekg at least told you "hey, i can't find my
data dir, you're gonna have a bad time". I don't mind handling the assets
dir myself, but it's a pain to have to track down.

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