Re: Packages removed from frozen
On Mon, Feb 07, 2000 at 10:20:20PM -0600, Manoj Srivastava wrote:
>
> gcc would be something that I would be willing to give special
> dispensation for - espescially since I know it tests itself on
> passes 2 and 3. Gcc is, therefore, part of the set of packages we
> call build essentials.
>
> However, this is not a dispensation that should be lightly
> given. Bootstrapping from scratch should be kept to a bare minimum of
> preinstalled packages -- the build essentials.
Sounds easy, but it isn't, unfortunately.
There are not only packages that build-depend on themselves
(as compilers), there are lots of other packages which can't be
bootstrapped within Debian because of longer cycles.
Often this is because Debian packages are fat (they provide all features
of a package, not only the minimal set of features, like documentation in
several formats etc), and you end up needing tex, jade/sgml and some other
stuff to compile otherwise simple packages. Because this is also true for
essential packages (think of all the gnu info documentation), you get
tight loops.
There are so many bootstrapping issues in Debian, I lost track of them
after a few weeks, and have forgotten most of them after half a year
already. (And I know what I am talking about. I started the Debian
GNU/Hurd dist with an empty disk and a cross compiler).
I am all for working out loops and trying to find ways out of them, but
getting anal over this is not going to work for the next time.
Thanks,
Marcus
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