Bug#235525: debian-policy: [PROPOSAL] Relax priority relations between packages (Policy 2.5)
On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 14:59:09 +0100, Andreas Barth <aba@not.so.argh.org> said:
> * 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.
How? What if the dependencies of a standard package now
includes TeX? Or requires Emacs? Then trying to install standard
would bring in these huge subsystems, and make the definition of
`standard' incorrect.
>> > 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.
I do not think that is the correct. We also have some promises
about sizes of installs, and each level was internally sufficient. I
think that is a useful technical invarian't, and should not be given
up lightly.
>> 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.
But not if we also need to loosen the assertions that were
possible to make before.
If it is not clear, I think this is a bad idea.
manoj
--
I do hate sums. There is no greater mistake than to call arithmetic
an exact science. There are permutations and aberrations discernible
to minds entirely noble like mine; subtle variations which ordinary
accountants fail to discover; hidden laws of number which it requires
a mind like mine to perceive. For instance, if you add a sum from the
bottom up, and then again from the top down, the result is always
different. Mrs. La Touche
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
1024R/C7261095 print CB D9 F4 12 68 07 E4 05 CC 2D 27 12 1D F5 E8 6E
1024D/BF24424C print 4966 F272 D093 B493 410B 924B 21BA DABB BF24 424C
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