Bug#54524: http_proxy and web clients.

[Greg Stark <gsstark@mit.edu>]

> > I don't think so - indeed policy says that packages shouldn't depend
> > on environment variables for their correct behaviour(3.9). I don't
> > disagree that http_proxy as an environment variable is common
> > practice, but I do disagree strongly that this should be made policy -
> > you'd have to do away with policy section 3.9 for starters...
> 
>  Uh? Environment variables should not be needed for proper operation, but
> you are taking that too far. In your world there wouldn't be a place for
> environment variables at all!

In an environment in which the proxy is required then the environment
variables would need to be set for proper operation. It's a bit of a stretch
but not really an unreasonable interpretation.

I would be against giving this system the "debian stamp of approval" by
putting it in policy. If we're going to make something policy lets get it
right. 

If we make the environment variables policy I say we make an /etc/proxies file
policy as well and require packages have a wrapper which checks

command line flags (if applicable)
environment variables (required)
home directory dotfiles (if applicable)
/etc/proxies (required)

Note that I'm not sure setting things in /etc/environment (or /etc/profile,
which is a worse idea) really works the way it should. does it override the
users' preferences saved in their dotfiles? That would be wrong.

-- 
greg