From: Juergen Strobel <strobel@...>
Date: 2006-07-02T03:42:31+09:00
Subject: Re: Debian packaging policy

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On Fri, Jun 30, 2006 at 11:20:22PM +0900, transfire@gmail.com wrote:
>=20
> Juergen Strobel wrote:
>=20
> > Debian users who use aptitude to install ruby opt to let Debian handle
> > the installation, why do they care where all the files live as long as
> > it works? And if it doesn't work, I complain via Debain Bug
> > Tracking. And I still can install gem and tradidtional gems in
> > addition.
> >
> > Apt/dpkg can install many files of different packages into the same
> > directory because you can use apt, dpkg to find and deinstall these
> > files again, and this is the preferred way over just deleting
> > them. Don't worry, let Debian handle it. It's a feature.
> >
> > If you are a control freak and really need to do your own ruby
> > install, noone prevents you from it even on Debian. I myself
> > contemplated this, but settled on apt + a few gems happily.
>=20
> Maybe I am misunderstood. Its not that it doesn't function. Rather that
> it mispreresents the ruby distributon --specifically it violates
> versioning policies. So while it's not a problem for requiring files,
> it is one for programmed introspection. I have a script that searches
> that ruby locatotins to know what libraries are present. I should be
> able to distinguish bettween the ruby distribution (where everything is
> tied to it's version 1.8+ presently) and all others libs which have
> their own versions. Debian's ploicy of installing 3rd party ruby
> packages directly in with the Ruby distibutition is therefore a poor
> choice of design.
>=20
> Again, usr/ and /usr/local should be reflections of one another.
>=20
> T.

Who says that? Certainly not the FHS. On the contrary, the FHS is very
strict about /usr, but places few restrictions on /usr/local, and
specifically does not want to usurp the local administrator.

In short: /usr/local is for software *different* from your vendor's.

On my system, debian manages /usr, but *I* manage /usr/local and it
certainly looks different, because sometimes I do things
differently. Ruby on Debian supports this beautifully by having
directories below /usr and /usr/local in its library search path.

The Debian maintainers don't want to provide multiple versioned
libraries, because it is a support nightmare and doesn't fit their
concept. I understand them. If you think your issue impacts the
functionality of ruby packages, file a bug report. But I feel the
maintainers will tell you that relying on a fixed file system layout
is a bad idea, and if your script relies on such it deserves to be non
portable. You might have to find other ways to query for installed
libraries.

-J=FCrgen

--=20
 The box said it requires Windows 95 or better so I installed Linux

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