[lsb-discuss] Modularization proposal updated

[Robert Schweikert]

On 04/22/2011 06:54 PM, Craig Scott wrote:
> I have a couple of questions/comments on the contents of the
> modularization proposal page. Under the Questions section, "How are
> dependencies handled" is the following sub-question:
>
> "The LSB will prescribe the beginning of the package names, such as
> lsb-core, postfix after the prescribed name can be distribution dependent"
>
> and a bit further down, under the questions regarding the lsb-release tool:
>
> "The name presented is prescribed by the prefix that is also described
> for the package names, see note above."
>
> I'm struggling to see what the value is in requiring distributions to
> use any particular form of package name. The LSB would specify specific
> full package names for the components and sub-components, with those
> package names being what ISV's would reference as dependencies for the
> packages they provide. Distros can provide those component package names
> as virtual packages, which means they still have the freedom to use
> whatever real package names they want but still meet the LSB
> component/sub-component naming requirements too. If you allow any
> freedom in the canonical names of the packages for the
> components/sub-components, then the LSB becomes useless to ISV's because
> they then no longer have one set of names to target as dependencies in
> the packages they provide. Am I misinterpretting the above two points
> from the modularization page?
>

Well, my idea is to not have the virtual package stuff, rather have 
packages lsb-core-WHATEVER_VERSION_SCHEME_PER_DISTRO.rpm This way we do 
not prescribe the versioning (which would lead to moaning and groaning), 
only the main name. As an ISV you can then list:

Require: lsb-core

if you are building packages, or if you have an installer

lsb-release | grep lsb-core >& /dev/null
if [$? -eq 0]then;
   echo "Must install lsb-core, cannot intsall app"
   exit 1
fi

Or equivalent for other languages that might drive the installer.

I guess I need to go back and make some changes to the wording.

Robert

-- 
Robert Schweikert                           MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU
SUSE-IBM Software Integration Center                   LINUX
Tech Lead
rschweikert at novell.com
rschweikert at ca.ibm.com
781-464-8147