Re: Question regarding policy (11.2)

[Josip Rodin <joy@gkvk.hr>]

On Sun, Feb 09, 2003 at 01:46:23PM -0800, Chris Waters wrote:
> > Section 11.2 says:
> > 
> >      In general, libraries must have a shared version in the library
> >      package and a static version in the development package.
> 
> > Since it says "the development package", not "a development package", it
> > must mean libfoo-dev, in which case putting it in another package is a
> > violation of a "must" directive.
> 
> But it also says, "in general", which completely undermines the
> "must", as it implies that specific cases may not fit the general
> rule.
> 
> In fact, the phrasing suggests to me that this sentence dates back to
> the time when policy was a compendium of accumulated wisdom and
> experience, rather than a legalistic weapon used to browbeat
> recalcitrant developers.  (Ah, those happy, innocent days of yore!:)

Hey, it's not _me_ who made it a legalistic weapon. ;)

As it is, it's a very lousy weapon, so in any case, it needs fixing.

-- 
     2. That which causes joy or happiness.