Re: RFC: Better formatting for long descriptions
On Thu, Apr 16 2009, Andreas Tille wrote:
> On Thu, 16 Apr 2009, Ben Finney wrote:
>
>> Note that, like Manoj, I'm suggesting only a *subset*, not the full
>> specification.
>
> Well, in this thread we had several suggestions reaching from complete
> change to different format up to "not in detail specified" subsets of
> other formats. IMHO this does not bring us foreward a single step.
> If we want to move foreward we have to make sure that we will not be
> forced to touch every single package because such an intend will be
This is exactly why I like markdown or restructured text, most
packages conform already.
> bound to fail and every minute spended in discussion here is simply
> wasted. So if you suggest a subset of a specification please state
> clearly which subset and whether it works with currently existing
> descriptions. I'd volunteer to set up a doodle poll with suggestions.
Voting is a piss poor means of making a technical decision.
At this point, I would say rules for lists, and bold/italics
should not be any more restrictive than markdown/ReST, and not impose
any more burdens on the description writer.
> If you make a suggestion please answer the following question:
>
> A. Does the suggestion enable parsing logical structures like
> two level itemize lists?
> (This is what I want to approach and what is IMHO needed)
Markdown and ReST, trivially.
> B. Does the suggestion enable keeping the majority of description
> untouched and enables keeping the currently existing tools?
> (This is important to gain any acceptance)
Yes, for both.
The one issue I have seen raised is that of using *italics* and
**bold** text; there are package descriptions where italics will
suddenly appear. Me, I like org mode, where we have /italics/, *bold*
+strikethrough+, _underline_; bug I doubt that org-mode will be popular
as an interpreter.
manoj
--
It is better to have loved and lost -- much better.
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/~srivasta/>
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