Bug#531519: debian-policy: Virtual package git installs gnuit
On Mon, Jun 01, 2009 at 05:57:36PM -0700, Ben Wong wrote:
> Package: debian-policy
> Version: 3.8.1.0
> Severity: wishlist
>
>
> When a user installs the package "git" she will likely be surprised to
Technically there is no package git in Debian currently.
> be told "Selecting gnuit instead of virtual package git". I request
> that the "git" virtual package be changed to install git-core. If
> that is not possible, there should be a notice to users along the
> lines of:
>
> "Git is the old name for gnuit, a file and process manager.
> If you wish to install git, the versioning system, please install
> git-core."
>
> By the way, I apologize if I'm filing this bug in the wrong place or
> bringing up a topic that has been long hashed out on the mailing
> lists. I did search debian.org extensively but could not find the
> information about how "git" came to point to "gnuit".
Thre issue is that "GNU Interactive Tools" was known as GIT severla years
before Linus chose the name for his VCS. So old Debian version includes a
package git that contains "GNU Interactive Tools". Linus git was packaged under
the name "git-core" since the name git was already taken. To reduce user
confusion, itwas decided to rename the git package to gnuit. However to allow
old systems to upgrade from the git package to the gnuit package, some care was
needed. I do not know what is the plan for the git "Provides" in gnuit.
> I am filing against debian-policy because that package claims[1] to
> contains the "authoritative list of virtual package names". However,
> "git" isn't in the list[2] and the list hasn't been updated since 2007.
>
> [1] http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-binary.html#s-virtual_pkg
> [2] http://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/virtual-package-names-list.txt
The list is correct. git is not in the list so this is not a matter for
Debian-policy. Your best bet is to reassign the bug against gnuit.
Cheers,
--
Bill. <ballombe@debian.org>
Imagine a large red swirl here.
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