Re: Metapackage dependencies: "Depends" or "Recommends"?

[Ole Streicher <olebole@debian.org>]

Simon McVittie <smcv@debian.org> writes:
> On 28/07/15 13:08, Marvin Renich wrote:
>> There is no downside to using Recommends and no upside to using Depends
>> for metapackages.
>
> I don't think it's that simple; it comes down to a question of what the
> metapackage "means", which is a design question for its maintainer.
>
> For metapackages that are about getting a broad range of options, I
> think Recommends make sense, for the reasons you gave. I agree that
> games-finest is in this category: installing games-finest should pull in
> "a selection of outstanding Debian games", but if you don't like
> openarena and you remove it, you still have what it says in the
> package's Description.

My metapackages would fall into that category: They shall just provide a
structured view for the end user to other packages: They mean
f.e. "Install the packages from the 'astromatic' collection" -- it is no
mistake to review this list and unselect the package that are not needed.

So, I would still stick with Recommends.

Thank you,

Best regards

Ole