Bug#293246: kppp: dependency on ppp
On Wednesday 02 February 2005 13:46, Matías Costa wrote:
> > Maybe it would be better if kdenetwork would only recommend kppp and not
> > depend on it, but I can see a rationale in that decision, kdenetwork
> > being a metapackage and used by different kind of users.
>
> That's it, you can make happy everyone. Just make it "easy" the people who
> needs it. These are the newbies, or just recent debian users.
So there were complaints about kppp only recommending ppp instead of depending
on it? Especially since the basic install of Debian already installs ppp and
pppoe, your hypothetical newbie must be very cunning and very dumb at the
same time.
> > However I can not see the rationale in raising the dependency on ppp from
> > Recommends to Depends. If you are a new user, you would use some frontend
> > like aptitude to install kppp, so the Recommends dependency is strong
> > enough and ppp will be installed. On the other hand a more advanced user
> > still can ignore the recommendation if he knows he did not need it on his
> > system.
>
> If you are a new user you blame kppp and debian for not working because ppp
> is not installed (and may be you do not know what ppp is).
How do you get into this state? Ignore everything your package manager of
choice says and unselecting the recommended packages?
> If you are a advanced user you know what a metapackage is and you
> uninstall it to remove all packages you do not need. I ever think kde
> metapackages means "Give me everything, now!".
Exactly, the alternative is to manually go through every single package and
consider your need for it.
> Advanced users and minimal-installation-droids (as me)
> usually do not need nor use these big metapackages (ie: kde)
"minimal-installation-droids" are not using kde ;-)
> > Changing the dependency does not improve the comfort using this package
> > to a new user but will inconvenience a more advanced user.
>
> Read above. Also the advanced user may understand debian should be
> "firendly" with novices.
You did not answered the question, how making kppp depend on ppp instead of
recommending it will increase the new user friendliness of Debian.
> BTW, kppp without ppp is a nice window in your desktop useless.
So what? Do I have to use it?
CU Micha
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