Bug#381467: bibtex2html: please provide alternative dependency on texlive packages
On Fre, 04 Aug 2006, Sven Luther wrote:
> Is texlive a full replacement of tetex ? If so, would having texlive provide a
> Provide: tetex-base or whatever not have been the way to go an the easiest
> solution, instead of bothering a huge amount of maintainer with the change ?
Unfortunately not, as - AFAIR - providing an actual package does not
work in the presence of the real package. That works in case of virtual
packages and in the absence of a real package.
Furthermore, still tetex is the option of choice, the texlive packaging
for Debian is too young to be completey ready.
> And you can easily say that the latex-base package will have to provide the
> subset of packages defined in the latex policy, and everyone should be happy.
But who will define this subset? There is no subset which makes all
content, not even all of the TeX Debian maintainers (some are
mathematicians, physicians, chemistry, linguist, or nothing at all).
This is the problem, there is *no* defined subset of minimal packages.
TeX live has started to categorize this into packages (as mirrored by
the texlive packages), but this changes permanently, and is open to
suggestions.
We know that it would be easier to have a simple virtual packages, but
it doesn't work. Eg. the package ipe needs special fonts from
tetex-extra. And it depends in which texlive package these fonts are.
Other Debian packages need the listings.sty (lyx AFAIR), etc etc. It all
depends on the intended target audience of the package, which sty files
it considers as "basic".
I think that the burden to the developers to change the depends line is
not soo big. Especially since I already suggested an extension.
Best wishes
Norbert
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Norbert Preining <preining AT logic DOT at> Università di Siena
gpg DSA: 0x09C5B094 fp: 14DF 2E6C 0307 BE6D AD76 A9C0 D2BF 4AA3 09C5 B094
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The main reception foyer was almost empty but Ford
nevertheless weaved his way through it.
--- Ford making his way out of Milliways whilst under the
--- influence of enough alchol to make a rhino sing.
--- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Reply to: