Bug#346152: debian-policy: mp3-encoder and mp3-decoder virtual packages.

[Kurt Roeckx <kurt@roeckx.be>]

Package: debian-policy
Version: 3.6.2.2

Hi,

#64006 and #64004 requested an mp3-decoder and mp3-encoder
virtual package.  I do not see the point in having any of those
packages as virtual package.

They're currently defined as:
 mp3-encoder             an MP3 encoder package
 mp3-decoder             an MP3 decoder package

And I have to wonder what an "mp3 decoder" is.  Would a library
that decodes mp3 qualify?  Or is it supposed to mean sound
players can can decode mp3?

I think virtual packages are only useful if you can have a
Depends on it, and that it provides some functionality your
program can use.

There currently is 1 packages that has a depends on any of those
2 packages:
vux: Depends on mpg321 | mp3-decoder

And it currently can't play mp3's with any other decoder than
mpg321.

There are also a few packages that have a suggest:
ecasound: mpg321 | mp3-decoder
gnump3d: mp3-decoder | xmms
nautilus: totem | mp3-decoder
peercast-handlers: mp3-decoder

And I have to wonder how they can have any use of any random
packages that says it provides the mp3-decoder virtual package if
it doesn't have a standard interface to use them.

Current list of packages providing mp3-decoder:
beep-media-player
mpg321
vlc
xmms

I think it's more useful to have debtags mark those packages that
can decode mp3s.  And guess what, all of them have the tags
sound::player and works-with::audio:mp3, and even alot more
packages have the combination of those 2 tags.

I suggest we remove those virtual packages.


Kurt