I surrender

[w9ya at arrl.net]

> w9ya at arrl.net wrote:
>
>>Hey gang;
>>
>>WARNING: this is a rant of sorts. (You have been forewarned.)
>>
>>
>>
> So, yeah, we're not always good enough at handling complex (some would
> say overly complex) package upgrades. No-one's gonna claim we are.

Well, as I indicated in my first email, it is for you all to decide
whether you want to make packages so folks do not have to dork around with
erasing files or changing permissions after an upgrade.

Lunar started out with that goal in mind, but it perfectly o.k. for it to
have morphed into what it is now.

>
> Do you perhaps, with all your experience maintaining packages, have a
> suggestion that might help us improve things?

Well, hmmm, it is not so easy to outline an art form such as really good
package maintenance. But one thing I am sure all really good packagers
will agree with is that if you rush and/or assume you got it right with a
simple version number change and a re-build, you often got it wrong.

One quick tip; every package management system is not completely (100 %)
without its' foibles. Therefore it is really important to FIRST know what
those are, and then SECOND apply that knowledge. An example -> some
package management systems can allow a compile and packaging phase to
place (some of the resulting) files outside of the new package and instead
in the live system. SO....a really good packager would ALWAYS take the
time to check to see if this anomaly has occurred and take corrective
action.

I am sure other devels can tell you of some of the things they have found,
and how they TRY to assure that such things do not come back to them as
user bug reports.

Perhaps one of the Lunar devels can gather up and write a document that
covers some suggested packaging procedures that cover some of these
anomalies. I have for at least two of the distros I have packaged for in
the past, and I have felt that it has been worth the effort.

>
> And, I can't help adding my own rant, if you don't have any suggestions,
>  that was a pretty useless mail you sent, don't you think?

Well, not really. Even without the above tip and suggestion, my email was
meant as a reminder that there are times to reflect on where things are
going and why.

>
> Thanks for the feedback,
>
>     Jasper

You are very welcome.


Very best regards;

Bob Finch

>
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