Re: Perl files in base
[I CC this reply to the debian-policy mailing list. On that list there is
currently a discussion on this topic. Please send any replies to
debian-policy.]
On Fri, 19 Sep 1997, Ian Jackson wrote:
> Aargh, I'd kind of hoped that the idea of running files in
> /var/lib/dpkg/info would die by itself, but I see it's not going to so
> I'll have to kill it.
Did you check out debian-policy? I looks like you are replying to an old
email here and the discussion did continue on debian-policy.
Note, that you are not "killing" an idea--it's quite the opposite: my
latest proposol was much more restrictive then yours.
> Do not do that. It will probably not work even at the moment, and is
> certainly not guaranteed to work in the future.
>
> The following text, or something like it, should be added to a
> relevant manual (the programmers' manual or whatever its successor
> is):
>
> Software available in maintainer scripts
> ----------------------------------------
>
> All package maintainer scripts may use software in the base package
> or any other package marked essential (eg, perl-base). If they
> require a particular version they may after consultation on
> debian-devel use Pre-Depends to ensure that the correct version is
> available.
AFAIK, base packages are not garantueed to be installed. Thus we should
probably not allow the use of such programs.
And didn't you say that "Pre-Depends" should not be used in connection
with a postinst script since this is too dangerous? (just wondering...)
> The postinst and prerm scripts may use any software which is provided
> by a package on which the package in question Depends. Again, a
> specific version dependency may be used.
>
> Software provided by non-Essential packages may not be used in
> preinst or postrm scripts.
Does this sentence conflict with the above?
> preinst or postrm scripts should in any case be used sparingly.
Thanks,
Chris
-- Christian Schwarz
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