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Re: GNUstep and FHS



Hello

I do not really see a problem here. All gnustep packages store
files in a (at least sort of) FHS compliant directory:
/usr/lib/GNUstep

It is not very different from perl, python, emacs, java (and more) packages
that have a "filesystem" of it's own and managed there.
Java have its in /usr/share/java (java is "cross platform") and
other package have similar things.

The only thing that can be argued is that the name maybe should be
without capital letters, but I do not think that is very important.

So I actually can not see that it break FHS, even if it do not
make full use of it.

Regards,

// Ola

On Wed, Jul 27, 2005 at 05:48:24PM +0200, Eric Heintzmann wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I already send this message to the debian-release mailing list, but
> Steve Langasek suggested me to send it to debian policy.
> 
> Actually, there are in Debian (sarge, etch, sid) more than 50 packages
> that are parts of the GNUstep Environment. But there is a big issue with
> all of them: none are FHS compliant.
> 
> The development of GNUstep started a long time before the birth of the
> File Hierarchy Standard, and since they implemented the OpenStep API,
> the upstream developers chose to create their own
> NeXTSTEP/OpenStep/MacOSX-like filesystem layout
> (http://www.gnustep.org/resources/documentation/User/GNUstep/filesystem_toc.html).
> Now, they don't want to change their filesystem layout according to the
> Linux FHS, because GNUstep is multi-platforms, Linux and Unix is only a
> target
> (http://www.gnustep.org/resources/documentation/User/GNUstep/machines_toc.html).
> They prefer to keep the same filesystem layout on all platforms
> (including Windows and Darwin/MacOSX) .
> Notice that Window Maker uses the same filesystem in Debian, even it is
> not a GNUstep application.
> 
> Under Debian:
> 
>     The System Domain is set to /usr/lib/GNUstep/System/
>     Packages install all their stuff here, (including object files,
> libraries, and internal binaries, shell scripts, headers, all   commands).
> 
>     The Local Domain is set to /usr/local/lib/GNUstep/Local/ (with a
> symlink in /usr/lib/GNUstep)
>     Packages install nothing here. Used by admin to build GNUstep
> applications locally.
> 
>     The Network Domain is set to /usr/local/lib/GNUstep/Network/ (with a
> symlink in /usr/lib/GNUstep)
>     Packages install nothing here. Used for shared stuff.
> 
>     The Users Domain is set to ~/GNUstep/
>     Packages install nothing here. Used for store users configuration files.
> 
> The problem is simple:
> First, gnustep-make which is used to build all others GNUstep package,
> install all the stuff according to the GNUstep filesystem layout, and
> cannot be set to install stuff elsewhere.
> Second, all GNUstep libraries, frameworks and applications expect for
> find stuff at a predetermined place. Moving files will just break GNUstep.
> 
> I co-maintain the GNUstep Core packages for more than 2 years, and I
> spend a lot of time to find a solution to these problems by moving files
> accordingly to FHS, and by symlinking some directories.
> After several tests, I have to admit that I am not able to make GNUstep
> FHS compliant without breaking it.
> And I don't think that is possible, except if upstream developers change
> their mind.
> 
> I've found a place to install GNUstep which seems to be FHS compliant:
> /opt/GNUstep.
> But using /opt for official Debian package is not allowed. (IMHO, it
> should be written explicitly into the policy document).
> Notice that FHS document just says : /opt is reserved for the
> installation of add-on application software packages.
> and not says what is a add-on application.
> 
> So, my question is, should GNUstep be removed from Debian ?
> 
>     Eric
> 
> 
> -- 
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-policy-REQUEST@lists.debian.org
> with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org
> 
> 

-- 
 --------------------- Ola Lundqvist ---------------------------
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