Bug#235525: debian-policy: [PROPOSAL] Relax priority relations between packages (Policy 2.5)
* Bill Allombert (allomber@math.u-bordeaux.fr) [040311 00:40]:
> As an example I recall the definition of 'standard' in policy 2.5.
>
> `standard'
> These packages provide a reasonably small but not too limited
> character-mode system. This is what will be installed by default
> if the user doesn't select anything else. It doesn't include
> many large applications.
>
> How will you implement that once you remove the requirement of
> standard to be self-contained ?
With some tool that can resolve dependencies, like apt-get, aptitude
or dselect.
> > Rationale:
> > The original wording is a legacy from the times when we didn't have
> > packaging tools as sophisticated as apt, and it was aimed to have
> > self-contained distributions even if low priorities like extra or
> > optional have been left off from the distribution medium.
> Not true. Policy is not dictated by tools.
Some parts of policy _are_ dictated by tools - and that's a good
thing. However, if we get better tools, we can and should relax policy.
> As a rule, I regard with extreme caution policy proposal made to help
> some package to become policy-compliant.
Which package should become policy-compilant by that change? Well,
there is none.
> Also, having more packages conflicts is a loss, so changing policy to
> allow to increase their number is a not a good idea, IMHO.
How do you come from here to packages conflicts?
Cheers,
Andi
--
http://home.arcor.de/andreas-barth/
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