Bug#719792: RFA: reconf-inetd & DEP9 -- maintainer script for programmatic updates of inetd.conf
Package: wnpp
Severity: normal
I request an adopter for the reconf-inetd package.
The package description is:
reconf-inetd is a dpkg-trigger script that updates the configuration of the
internet superserver. It is a replacement for update-inetd, as per DEP9.
.
If the above does not mean anything to you, then you most certainly do not
need this package.
I do not have the time to be the sole driver of DEP9, and its implementation,
reconf-inetd. reconf-inetd is pretty much complete, it works, and it comes
with dozens of system tests. Remaining work includes:
- port to python 3
- use of a Debian python helper to manage byte-compilation
- file bug reports to the reverse dependencies of update-inetd to migrate to
reconf-inetd, as described in DEP9 (which also describes how to prepare
patches)
The last item is a lot of work, and will require interacting with lots of
other maintainers via the BTS. The adopter must know python (reconf-inetd is a
native package), have packaging experience, and lots of motivation.
I'm not sure anymore whether DEP9 (ie. replacing update-inetd with
reconf-inetd) is worthwhile, because inetd (which is what update/reconf-inetd
configure) will eventually be deprecated by systemd and upstart. Having said
that, inetd is unlikely to vanish anytime now, and in the meantime
update-inetd is buggy and has 120k installations.
I'll be around to sponsor (if necessary) & answer questions, but will
otherwise not be actively involved.
Links:
- functional description of reconf-inetd & plan of migration away from
update-inetd: http://dep.debian.net/deps/dep9/
- pts & git:
http://packages.qa.debian.org/r/reconf-inetd.html
http://git.debian.org/?p=collab-maint/reconf-inetd.git;a=summary
- vaguely related talk at fosdem (includes a description of the reconf-inetd
system tests)
http://video.fosdem.org/2012/crossdistro/How_to_replace_a_legacy_tool_with_100k_installations.webm
Reply to: