Bug#1003653: Revision of removal of rename.ul from package util-linux
Hi Dom and Chris,
Chris proposes to transition /usr/bin/rename from the perl API to the
util-linux API.
On Thu, Apr 07, 2022 at 01:04:54PM +0200, Chris Hofstaedtler wrote:
> I see two clear options:
[...]
> B) Finish the very old migration. Have util-linux(-extra) ship
> /usr/bin/rename; perl rename can be prename/file-rename as today,
> but would need to drop the update-alternatives symlink; versioned
> Conflicts/Provides/Replaces would probably be needed. I would also
> suggest having no binary package ship /usr/bin/rename for one
> release.
>
> This is also a very clear option:
>
> - All code can in the future assume /usr/bin/rename to have the same
> interface across distributions. Even Debian code.
> - Does not need update-alternatives in an Essential package (= no
> postinst fragment).
> Less of an issue if /usr/bin/rename will be in util-linux-extra.
> - One thing less in src:util-linux that needs dh-exec (which is
> orphaned and I want to get rid of).
> - Debian can ship both variants under "nice enough" names.
Dom (or whoever maintains perl's rename now), would you agree to release
the /usr/bin/rename name to use it for util-linux' implementation
retaining prename for the perl implementation?
A little background (for newly added participants):
We have two conflicting APIs for /usr/bin/rename. The perl API has
historical precedent in Debian. The util-linux API tends to be used more
widely accross other Linux distributions (in particular Fedora). We
cannot have /usr/bin/rename both be compatible with old versions of
Debian and current versions of Fedora. That leaves us in the difficult
spot where we get to decide which compatibility to keep. Chris
essentially wants the util-linux implementation to either not be shipped
at all or filling the /usr/bin/rename spot. So now, we're asking the
perl side for their view on this.
If /usr/bin/rename is to be transitioned from perl to util-linux, I
think we should have a proper announcement on debian-devel@l.d.o or
better d-d-a before doing it, but getting the input from the perl side
seems to be a prerequisite.
Helmut
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