new metadata format for repositories

[Michel Alexandre Salim]

On Wed, 2004-01-21 at 11:04, Jim Cornette wrote:

> Now for deb, rpm or whatever program packager to co-exist within the 
> Linux systems and not conflict.

Having a common format for .deb and .rpm repositories does not
necessarily make it possible to mix and match them on one's PC. Nor is
it advisable, IMHO. Beside the different package names, dependency is
done differently under the two systems - RPM has dependency on file
which DPKG does not; DPKG has 'Recommends:' that RPM does not.

What made/makes Debian superior was/is a unified Apt repository; it's
not dpkg itself. With the main RPM distributions now sporting Apt-like
repositories (apt-rpm, yum, urpmi) it would be nice to consolidate.
Using a standard file format such as XML too.

Disclaimer: I am just a humble Apt/Yum user, take this with a grain of
salt.

- Michel