Re: [RFC] Debian skin for AIX
On Sat, 9 Mar 2002, Colin Watson wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 09, 2002 at 01:01:49PM -0600, Jor-el wrote:
> > b. The AIX package database is called the ODM (sorry - you'll have to
> > ask someone who knows, what it stands for) and contains details of files
> > installed via the AIX installer. The dpkg database needs to be able to
> > read that information and be capable of accepting AIX programs as
> > an alternative to dependencies. For example, PERL is distributed as part
> > of AIX proper and also as part of the toolbox. If there is a Debian
> > package that depends on PERL, and if the AIX PERL is installed, then the
> > Debian installer needs to recognize that the dependancy has been met.
>
> Are you sure about that? AIX's perl package won't be configured with the
> same include path as Debian's, so our perl-based packages are unlikely
> to work with it.
I don't think that counting on AIX's perl package is wise. If you want
Debian to run with any consistency on AIX boxen, install a dedicated,
Debianized Perl. I work in an environment with a slew of mixed Unices,
predominately AIX - dpkg aside, we gave up on using AIX's Perl altogether
and went with a consistent version of Perl installed in /usr/local/bin/.
Even AIX does this (the PSSP packages have their own Perl separate from
the "main" perl.bff). In other words, how do you make sure that a Perl
patch from IBM won't lay your dpkg installation to waste?
But the real burning question I see is, where to do you put the Debian
version of Perl and its modules? /usr/local/bin/ is a policy violation
(and would cause no end of grief for those who already have their
infrastructure installed there), but /usr/bin/ is Evil for other reasons.
Perhaps there should be a /usr/debian/ directory with it's own ./lib/,
./bin/, etc. for OSes where you have co-existant packaging system. I know
it's ugly, but you need a way to maintain orthogonality between the
"native" packaging system and dpkg.
Anyway, sorry to jump in mid-thread. I'm not familiar with running dpkg
on AIX or Solaris, but have been burned by trying to depend on AIX's Perl.
tony
tony@mancill.com | Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste
http://www.debian.org | -- ksh@cis.ufl.edu put this on Tshirts in '93
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