Package: util-linux
Version: 2.36.1-7
In bug #926637 rename.ul was removed as an
alternative for /usr/bin/rename, citing "debian-policy"
and because the implementations "cannot be used
interchangeably."
After using the util-linux 'rename' for at least a decade,
maybe even two, I find this extremely frustrating, I
have scripts that rely on this, provisioning that sets
this alternative up on all machines, and have relied on
this for many years.
There is no such Policy I can find after searching all
occurrences of the word "alternative" in the current
https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/policy.pdf
and indeed this seems to be the exact purpose of the
alternative mechanism. There are many examples of
alternatives that provide the same command name
but use different command-line interfaces, such as
/usr/bin/mail, /usr/bin/vi, /usr/bin/www-browser (are
we going to say firefox and chromium have the same
cli?), /usr/bin/sensible-editor, the list goes on and on.
Please add rename.ul back and let those of us that
want it as 'rename' to keep it. This was an arbitrary
decision from On High, pointing at non-existent policy
and in fact countermands the exact stated purpose
of the alternatives mechanism, directly from the
debian-policy manual:
"When several packages all provide different versions
of the same program or file it is useful to have the system
select a default, but to allow the system administrator to
change it and have their decisions respected. For example,
there are several versions of the vi editor, and there is no
reason to prevent all of them from being installed at once,
each under their own name (nvi, vim or whatever).
Nevertheless it is desirable to have the name vi refer to
something, at least by default."
Of course not all versions of Vi have the same CLI. Just
because some programs try to respect one in different
implementations (or a subset), such as /usr/lib/sendmail,
does not mean that all Alternatives are required to do
that, it doesn't make any sense at all. Instead of "allowing
the system administrator to ... have their decision respected"
this arbitrary change has taken place with no authority given
to the system administrator and defying the purpose of the
alternatives system and Debian Policy.
Please add it back, it is an Alternative exactly like they are
designed to be used, as specified in Debian Policy, and has
existed for many years. Thanks.
