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Re: new proposal: Translating Debian packages' descriptions



On Thu, Sep 13, 2001 at 01:26:07PM -0500, Steve Langasek wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Sep 2001, Michael Bramer wrote:
> > > The end-user tools would never have to deal with outdated translations if the
> > > ".mo" file is assembled ahead of time in a central location.  Match up the
> > > translations, insert them into the distilled .po file using the package
> > > name/version as the key, and you're done.
> 
> > one point:
> >  I get the package-1.2 from 'commercial german distributor' with german
> >  translation. And I watch (with apt-cache show) the description
> >  package-1.2.1 from security.debian.org?
> 
> >  I don't see the german description...
> 
> > other point:
> >  I have a gnome-base-1.2 from HelixCode and show the description from
> >  gnome-base-1.2 from debian... But the description from both packages
> >  is not the same....
> 
> >  (I know our package management don't support this case, but we have
> >  this case in real (maybe)...)
> 
> This is an interesting point, but the solution is simple.  If package+version
> can't be used as a key to uniquely identify packages in the dpkg status
> database, then we key on whatever /is/ used by this database.

apt use IMHO a 'long' pointer. like:
security.debian.org_dists_potato_updates_main_binary-i386_Package_version

But yes, this don't need the size of a normal description.

> > next point:
> >  You have in your apt-source some sources. Like a older CD-Rom with
> >  2.1 and 2.2_r0, a uptodate 2.2_r3 from ftp.debian.org, testing and
> >  sid from http.debian.org.
> 
> >  With this you have alle descriptions many times in the .mo file.
> >  (like package-0.9 from 2.1, package-1.4 from 2.2_r0, package-1.4.1
> >  from 2.2_r3 and package-1.5 from testing and sid...)
> 
> If the descriptions remain constant for the packages, you're correct that
> there would be duplication.  But should we not optimize for the common case?
> Most users won't keep /old/ sources in the list; few will even have testing,
> unstable, and stable in the list at the same time.

No. stable and testing is more and more common. With pins you can
install all from stable and some packages from testing/unstable. I
make some talks about this feature and the user use it, after the know
it. Believe me. 

> > > I'm not suggesting replacing the format that translators will work with.  I'm
> > > just disagreeing that standard .mo files are the best solution to be
> > > integrated into dpkg and apt.
> > ...
> > > More direct lookups.  Smaller .po files.  Better integration with existing
> > > tools, instead of grafting a new arm onto our existing /var/lib/dpkg
> > > structure.
> 
> > Yes, .mo files are not the best thing. this is your point and you are
> > right.
> 
> > But this is a other problem and we can solve this problem parallel.
> 
> > I propose this:
> >   - use (a unchanged) gettext now in dpkg and get the thing rolling.
> >   - change the gettext to use a optional 'md5sum-like' thing for a
> >     lookups.
> 
> >     (save the translation with the md5sum of the orignal text as key)
> 
> For the goal of getting support for translated descriptions into Debian as
> soon as possible, I think use of unmodified gettext is a reasonable choice.

Yes. 

We should find a conclusion with the dpkg and apt developer. Only
with a conclusion (maybe without gettext) our user can use this
translations.

Gruss
Grisu
-- 
Michael Bramer  -  a Debian Linux Developer http://www.debian.org
PGP: finger grisu@db.debian.org  -- Linux Sysadmin   -- Use Debian Linux
 Der Optimist glaubt wir leben in der besten aller moeglichen Welten.
 Der Pessimist befuerchtet, dass das stimmt.

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