Bug#42269: dotfile wants all modules
On Sun, 1 Aug 1999, Josip Rodin wrote:
> On Sat, Jul 31, 1999 at 10:53:16PM -0500, Brad wrote:
> > Package: dotfile
> > Version: 2.3b2-1
> >
> > When using dselect, the Recommends dependancy on dotfile-module (>=
> > 1:2.3b2-1) makes dselect want to install all available dotfile modules.
> > The conflict resolution screen doesn't give the opportunity to deselect
> > the unwanted ones. The net effect is that all dotfile modules must be
> > installed when using dselect.
>
> Didn't pressing 'Q' work?
Nope. Neither did pressing R to [try to] reset the selections then
pressing Q. Neither did putting the packages on hold.
It may have worked when leaving the package selection screen, but why
should i have to do that, and miss all other conflict resolutions, because
of a bug in your package?
> > I propose that the version number be removed from that Recommends line in
> > the debian/control file, since the dotfile-* packages don't provide any
> > specific version of the dotfile-module pseudopackage.
>
> They can't, versioned provides aren't implemented in dpkg.
i suspected as much... Too bad, it could've been useful.
> The Recommends: dotfile-module (>= ${Source-Version}) is by itself perfectly
> reasonable, because dotfile is basically unusable without a module. And the
> newer the modules are, the better (some older ones may even be incompatible).
The Recommends: dotfile-module is fine, but the version doesn't make any
sense. Take dotfile-bash for example: its version is 1.02-4, so if it
provides any version of dotfile-module it'll give 1.02-4, not the 2.3b2-1
which dotfile wants.
> IMNSHO it would be better to fix (or stop using) dselect, instead of making
> stupid workarounds in the packages.
What should be used then? capt doesn't work well enough for me (when i get
time, i intend to file a wishlist bug list). apt-get doesn't give enough
feedback about what's new, what's installed, and so forth. Manually
browsing the mirrors doesn't tell me what the packages are.
Besides, you're depending on a specific version of a provided package
which should have no version, since versioned provides aren't supported.
How is not doing so a "stupid workaround"? If you really want versioning,
have the packages provide dotfile-module-${Source-Version} to work around
the lack of versioning in provides.
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