On Tue, Feb 03, 2004 at 11:23:11PM -0600, Adam Majer wrote: > > Hi, > > I need clarification on what a package is. For example, the policy > states (2.2.1): > > In addition, the packages in main > > * must not require a package outside of main for compilation or > execution (thus, the package must not declare a "Depends", > "Recommends", or "Build-Depends" relationship on a non-main package), > > > The first mension of package is clear. But what does this mean? > > "must not require a package outside of main"
It means that it must be possible to build and install the package (and have
it work!) without anything but packages in "main" ever being installed.
> For example, a jikes has a Recommends as follows:
>
>
> Recommends: jikes-sablevm | jikes-gij | jikes-classpath | jikes-kaffe |
> jikes-sun
>
>
>
> Now, all of these packages, but jikes-sun, are in main (or will be once
> uploaded). Does jikes satisfy the policy? Does the policy refer to "a
> package" as "jikes-sablevm OR jikes-gij OR ..."
>
> OR
>
> does it mean "jikes-sablevm AND jikes-gij AND ... " ?
Point 1 - It's "Recommends". Therefore, it doesn't matter. You can
Recommend *anything*, even stuff that is so non-free that Debian doesn't
distribute it at all (though it would be better to Suggest it unless there
are free alternatives; see point 2).
Point 2 - As long as *at least* one of a set of alternatives is free and
in main, what the rest are does not matter. See, for example, the common
dependancy of "exim4 | mail-transport-agent", where at least a couple of
things that Provide: mail-transport-agent are in non-free.
Point 3: This looks like a good place for a virtual package. Then you could
simply write "Recommends: jikes-sablevm | jikes" (or whatever other default
jikes implementation you want to use, though good taste would recommend it
be one of the free ones...)
--
Joel Baker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ,''`.
Debian GNU/NetBSD(i386) porter : :' :
`. `'
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