Re: Do we ever retire packages?

[Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.chu.cam.ac.uk>]

Dirk Eddelbuettel writes ("Re: Do we ever retire packages?"):
...
> I would like to have a2gs and a2ps removed. They both have the same
> Description: text, and scope, "ASCII to PostScript filter".
> 
> For me, a2gs is broken. I filed bug 1112 against it [1], and this bug is
> still open after 13 months. There are also bugs 3456 and 3848 against it.
> a2ps does a similar thing, but is in non-free. It has bugs 1874 and 3911
> against it.
> 
> Both programs are _completely surpassed_ by enscript (which used to be called
> genscript), a _GPL'ed_ program that does more than a2ps and a2gs.
> 
> I propose, as I did before, that these programs get removed. Unless someone
> complains, I will, as suggested, file two bugs against ftp.debian.org to have
> them removed.

I disagree.  If they really are that broken and noone wants to
maintain them, put them in contrib.

Unless enscript provides programs a2gs and a2ps which emulate their
command line interfaces then it is not a complete replacement.

Ian.