Restructuring package listings around debtags
As indicated in http://lists.debian.org/debian-jr/2006/02/msg00008.html
I would like us to completely restructure Debian Jr. package listings
around debtags instead of the current metapackage based system.
Here is a review of what in our junior-* metapackages and what is tagged
with junior::* tags (except for the junior::meta tags, which should
simply go away once the metapackages are killed off) in the debtags
database.
$ apt-cache show junior-arcade |grep Depends
Depends: bugsquish, bumprace, circuslinux, cuyo, heroes, koules,
lbreakout2, madbomber, thrust, toppler, wing, xscavenger, xsoldier,
zblast-x11
$ echo `debtags search junior::arcade | cut -d' ' -f1`
bugsquish bumprace circuslinux circuslinux-data cuyo koules lbreakout2
madbomber moon-buggy moon-buggy-esd thrust toppler tuxmath wing xblast
xpilot xscavenger xsoldier zblast-svgalib zblast-x11
1. In debtags, circuslinux-data has been added. While it is not
strictly required in order for a debtags-based Debian Jr. install to
work (circuslinux depends on it, so it would be included anyway)
certainly there is a logic to tagging all data packages that belong to
junior applications with a junior-faceted tag.
2. In debtags, moon-buggy and moon-buggy-esd are included as
junior::arcade, even though it is classified by us in junior-games-text,
and likewise, xblast and xpilot, even though we put these in
junior-games-net. Such discrepancies will no longer matter when we move
from metapackages to debtags because under debtags, packages can be
classified multiple ways. The moon-buggy packages are tagged
game::arcade and interface::text-mode already. However, neither xblast
nor xpilot have tags indicating they have a networked mode of play.
We'll have to follow up with the debtags maintainers about that.
3. In debtags, tuxmath has been added. I certainly agree we should add
it. Thanks, whoever added this. As you can see, it is easier to
collaborate with the rest of Debian to keep our listings up-to-date when
we use debtags.
4. Both zblast-svgalib and zblast-x11 are tagged as junior packages.
However, I had consciously omitted zblast-svgalib as an alternative in
my junior-arcade package because of the security implications of svgalib
games. Therefore, I think we should drop the tag from zblast-svgalib.
$ apt-cache show junior-games-gl |grep Depends
Depends: armagetron, bzflag, gltron, tuxkart, planetpenguin-racer
$ echo `debtags search junior::games-gl | cut -d' ' -f1`
armagetron bzflag gltron gnubik torcs tuxkart tuxkart-data
5. Here is a case where my metas are a bit ahead of the debtags effort.
Since tuxracer was renamed planetpenguin-racer, it seems debtags has not
yet caught up.
6. Again, someone has helpfully made a contribution on their own: gnubik
is a nice addition to the Junior gl-based games. Of course, we'll have
to keep on top of the junior debtags additions since anyone can add
them, and we might not always agree. Perhaps we could have the debtags
maintainers filter changes and email notification about junior tag
changes to this list so we can review them. I'm particularly concerned
about how we'll manage changes as we near and then finally reach the
release date for Etch. We will want to ensure that Etch packages are
tagged the way we want and are not altered at the last minute without
being reviewed by us. We'll have to discuss with the debtags
maintainers how to implement this.
$ apt-cache show junior-art |grep Depends
Depends: gimp, tuxpaint, xpaint
7. It could be argued that gimp should be junior::extra, not core, and
xpaint might even be removed altogether. Do kids still use this? My
kids always reach for tuxpaint.
$ apt-cache show junior-games-card |grep Depends
Depends: ace-of-penguins, pysol
$ apt-cache show junior-games-net |grep Depends
Depends: xpilot, xblast
8. My 11-year-old and 15-year-old kids also enjoy the Battle for
Wesnoth.
$ apt-cache show junior-games-sim |grep Depends
Depends: freeciv, lincity
9. None of our kids have shown an interest in these. I'd like to hear
from others about how well their kids take to these games.
$ apt-cache show junior-games-text |grep Depends
Depends: bsdgames, moon-buggy | moon-buggy-esd, nettoe, zivot
$ apt-cache show junior-gnome |grep Depends
Depends: gbatnav, gcompris, mathwar
$ apt-cache show junior-kde |grep Depends
Depends: kig, kstars, ktuberling, kworldclock
$ apt-cache show junior-math |grep Depends
Depends: bc, bsdgames, snowflake, xaos, xbase-clients
$ apt-cache show junior-programming |grep Depends
Depends: ucblogo, python2.3, python2.3-doc, python-tk, python-mode,
idle, drscheme
10. I have always had a hard time with this particular metapackage. It
seems to me that programming will not appeal to any more than a select
few children, and then the choice of language is going to be largely a
matter of taste, depending on who is doing the teaching. With the
exception of ucblogo, which is specifically geared towards kids, I don't
think any of these belong in Debian Jr. The other day on irc, someone
brought to my attention a promising package in this category for which I
have not yet seen an ITP: http://littlewizard.sourceforge.net/.
$ apt-cache show junior-puzzle |grep Depends
Depends: codebreaker, frozen-bubble, gtans, lmemory, xjig
$ apt-cache show junior-sound |grep Depends
Depends: bplay, cdtool, grip, vorbis-tools, xmms
$ apt-cache show junior-system |grep Depends
Depends: mc, hello, lavaps, xcruise
$ apt-cache show junior-toys |grep Depends
Depends: lletters, oneko, xfireworks, xfishtank, xhangglider, xpenguins,
xplanet, xplanet-images, xscreensaver, xteddy
$ apt-cache show junior-typing |grep Depends
Depends: tipptrainer, typespeed, gtypist, xletters
11. Notably missing is tuxtype, which is being worked on. I'm looking
forward to a release any day now that will fix copyright issues.
$ apt-cache show junior-writing |grep Depends
Depends: emacs21 | emacsen, vim, nedit, nano, dict, aspell, abiword |
abiword-gnome
12. I think emacs21, vim, and possibly nedit should be junior::extra,
whereas the others should be junior::core.
$ apt-cache show junior-internet |grep Depends
Depends: firefox
13. You'll notice I really gutted this package. Aside from the web and
a few networked games, my kids don't really use other Internet apps.
Finally, junior-doc isn't mentioned anywhere above. It is not a
metapackage and is not in any metapackages, though it is erroneously
tagged junior::meta in the debtags database. It should simply be tagged
junior::core.
I'm waiting for some discussion before we move ahead on any of these
changes, so let's get started.
Ben
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