Re: need input: essential packages and pre-depends
Santiago Vila <sanvila@unex.es> writes:
> > I can't see any reason for ncurses-bin to be essential.
>
> Well, I can see a reason: if the console is so messed up that you
> don't even see "dpkg" when you write it, and you have not clear or
> reset, then you have a problem.
That's not enough reason to make a package Essential, the policy
manual clearly states that removing a required package can leave your
system totally FUBAR, anyone who removes a required ncurses-bin does
so at their peril. We should not be using the Essential tag as some
misguided attempt at enforcing the "You must not remove" clause of
required packages.
| `required'
| `required' packages are necessary for the proper functioning of
| the system. You must not remove these packages or your system may
| become totally broken and you may probably not even be able to
| use dpkg to put things back. Systems with only the `required'
| packages are probably unusable, but they do have enough
| functionality to allow the sysadmin to boot and install more
| software.
--
James
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