back in v4.0~a6-1 a transition process was started to move the live-build
config to a new format. the new format was INI style, and required
parsing functions to read/write values, compared to the existing format
which was just shell script code setting variables.
this partial transition is the explanation for the existence of the
`New_configuration()` function, and understanding this is important to
understanding the purpose of it - it is not in fact intended for creating
a new configuration, it is just related to the new config format
transition.
the positives of the new format were that it was somewhat cleaner looking,
while the negative was the terrible relative efficiency.
the file `config/build` was created to hold options in this new format.
the transition was only ever completed for a handful of config options:
- architecture
- archive areas and parent archive areas
- live image name
- live image type
a 'configuration version' attribute was also saved, which is not used by
anything.
the bootstrap-mirror and parent-bootstrap-mirror attributes are pointlessly
stored in it seemingly resulting from work done in v4.0~a17-1. (they are
also stored in another config file from which the value is actually used).
it in fact seems to have been a source of confusion for Raphaël in
authoring 44b9b0a650, since the new
`[parent]-distribution-{chroot|binary}` options it introduced were stored
both in `config/bootstrap` and in `config/build`, while only used from the
former. i expect, understandably, that he thought that `config/build` was
just an information file.
Gbp-Dch: Short
c441c39efe