> Adam R. B. Jack wrote: > > >So one can look at a repository of artefacts and select the "best" for the > >user automatically. Each user has a different view of "best", some want > >latest (nightly/snapshot), some want latest "release" only. > > > >Having a repository with automated tools that require humans to understand > >the contents kinda breaks the automation... > >
"Michal Maczka" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Not necesserly the fact that version number is not parsable by machines > determines that fact that versions are uncomparable. That sounds more like a 20/80 rule, i.e. you can't for some -- so don't bother for all. ;-) Who is to say we couldn't get some sort of agreement amongst apache software? IT doesn't have to be today, maybe later, but I feel it is critical that the artifacts are "understandable" in order to allow intelligent processing. Two versions only need to be comparable with others within their own namespace, not against all others. > Simply metdata atached to artifacts (which can be denoted as URL) is > not sufficient for making smart tools and never be. I know, I completely agree, it is not for all cases. But, I believe we set a miniumum bar that a repository ought be able to do a mimimum set of things even without metadata. If we can't build a tool to download the "right" jar without metadata we have the bar too low. > Artifact versioning is horribly complicated topic and I am simply afraid > that attempts to e.g. guess version precedence from version strings > are not relaiable in the best case. Yes, but there are some established standards -- it isn't all chaos: http://jakarta.apache.org/commons/versioning.html http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/guide/extensions/versioning.html Metadata could inform a tool what version standard it adheres to, or not, and tools could then leverage. I think stating a versioning scheme (should one exist) is much better than positional metadata. I might be hoping for too much, but I think it is worth considering, especially within the confines of an Apache repository. Let's take this to Wiki [I'll figure out a way]. I (clearly) have a bias towards trying to process/understand versions ( see http://www.krysalis.org/version ) -- but I'm *NOT* trying to force this on the repository, just trying to ensure that version processing doesn't get overlook accidentally, only intentionally [if it doesn't fit]. regards Adam
