Re: bug #350639

[Thorny <thorntreehome@gmail.com>]

On Sun, 17 May 2009 12:31:05 -0700, Freddy Freeloader posted:

[...]
> 
> I have to ask why.  Why is this left up every user of testing to fix
> this problem themselves when the fix is so simple?
>[...]

One possible answer to this question would be that users of "testing" are
supposed to be able to troubleshoot and fix problems in "testing". The
maintainer may rely on that and not think there is a pressing need to do
it.

>Why can't this fix be
> uploaded to the Debian repositories?  It's not like auto mounting of
> cd/dvd's and portable usb devices is something hardly anyone does on a
> daily basis.
>

All I could suggest is to ask the maintainer directly, he may not read
this list. The email address is available in the bug report or with the
package itself.
 
>[...]

>  In my mind there is no good reason for this fix to go into Sid
> and then sit there until the dependencies are satisfied for that version
> number.

Well, that is the standard flow. I hear you that it isn't convenient for
you but it is standard.


>[...]
 
> Testing is what the biggest portion of Debian users have on their
> desktops.

Do you have any documentation to support this, I do understand how you
might think that reading lists and forums but I've never seen any
documentation of version percentages for desktops.

>[...]

>  Is the Debian development process in that much trouble, i.e. short of
>  help, or
> have such unreasonable versioning rules that something this simple can't
> be fixed promptly?
>

Following the standards is not necessarily an indication of "being in
trouble", it's an indication of following standards and flow. "Stable" is
the version that is stable, probably in some sense that stability is a
result of the Debian "flow".

This isn't important for your question but I personally don't like to
automount, I prefer to mount as I choose and as needed. YMMV.

I think I do understand your frustration, and you've got a good example to
work with but standards are standards and the flow has given us very good
stable Debian for many years, I want it to remain the same.