Re: Packaging Questions
Guy Maor writes ("Packaging Questions"):
> Essential binaries are moving out of miscutils into other packages.
> The package replacement is going like this:
>
> miscutils -> miscutils
> chfn * getty
> * login
> * fdisk
> * passwd
>
> For obvious reasons, it's essential that the starred packages get
> installed before the newer miscutils. What is the best way to
> accomplish this? Also note that the chfn package is disappearing, but
> dpkg-disappear-replace.txt indicates that is fairly automatic.
Yes, but you have to use Replaces nowadays ...
> A simple method lets miscutils depend on the other four packages. This
> dependency must then remain in miscutils forever, on the off chance a
> user will upgrade directly to that version.
No, that won't do the right thing - and in any case you can't do it
retrospectively.
The real solution here, I'm afraid, is to call the replacement `small'
package something other than miscutils.
Then you can install them in any order, without worrying about having
the cut-down miscutils before the new stuff is in place.
You need to make sure that all the new packages say
Replaces: miscutils (< most-recent-version)
(the version is case you ever want to bring miscutils back), and that
between them they cover all of miscutils' files (otherwise miscutils
won't disappear).
Ian.
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