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Bug#589671: Required package set can be fully usable



Hi Neil,

On moandei 19 July 2010, Neil Williams wrote:
> This sentence in Policy 2.5 is too prohibitive:
> "Systems with only the required packages are probably unusable, but they
> do have enough functionality to allow the sysadmin to boot and install
> more software."
> 
> I would suggest a more open wording:
> "Systems with only the required packages installed can be fully usable -
> depending on the type of tasks expected of that system. The installed
> packages still include enough functionality to allow the sysadmin to
> boot and install more software."
> 
> I have many systems with only Priority: required packages and a
> selection of hand-picked packages from Priority: optional which are
> fully usable systems - within the expectations of what such a system
> can be expected to achieve, e.g. a NAS or mobile phone installation.

I think these examples are not great because you basically say that "required 
+ a few hand picked packages" is usable, so "required" is usable. I still 
agree that the wording can be improved. But I would leave out the "fully" you 
introduce, because this is again a variation on the same problem: the 
subjectiveness of what constitutes a "usable" or "fully usable" system.

How about just simplifying it to the following, without making any suggestions 
about its further usability. Describe in a factual way what it is, and leaves 
it to the reader to decide on whether they think this is usable.

"Systems with only the required packages installed have at least enough 
functionality for the sysadmin to boot the system and install more software."


Thijs

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