Hi Wouter, Quoting Wouter Verhelst (2014-05-07 11:34:23) > What you seem to want is a unified and standardized way for one > package to provide an API for changing things about how the package > will function, to other packages. Correct. > While a worthwhile effort, I don't think this is what debconf (in its > current state, at least) can do. I still believe debconf us possible to use for this - in its current form but with aid of additional logic (which possibly fits your view). > After all, the problem with reconfiguring another package in the way > you seem to suggest is that if it were to be effective for what you > want to see realized, it would run afoul of the requirement in Policy > 10.7.4 that > > The maintainer scripts must not alter a `conffile' of _any_ package, > including the one the scripts belong to. > > (at least in spirit) That text talks about _conffiles_ specifically, and one way to avoid that specific rule is using... debconf! > That same section 10.7.4 also explains how packages who wish to change > configuration files of other packages should work, currently: there > should be an interface provided by the package through which other > packages can then change the relevant configuration. Where debconf is one such interface provided by the package. I believe the spirit of §10.7.4 is to ensure that any configuration of a package not done explicitly by the user is done through the package itself. One reason for that is to ensure that there is one well-defined place to report any bugs: the package! [snip - need to think more about the rest] - Jonas -- * Jonas Smedegaard - idealist & Internet-arkitekt * Tlf.: +45 40843136 Website: http://dr.jones.dk/ [x] quote me freely [ ] ask before reusing [ ] keep private
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