[Fedora-packaging] Re: Proposal to limit file deps

[Fernando Nasser]

Rex Dieter wrote:
> Fernando Nasser wrote:
>> I have two questions:
>>
>> 1) If this is a problem that only affects yum and all the other 
>> depsolvers do it efficiently, would it be better to fix yum instead or 
>> working around it by spec file changes?
> 
> It's still generally a good idea to minimize file deps.
> 

Sure, but there are cases where it is desirable.  I am afraid a dull 
guideline will put a straight jacket on developers.

For instance, I know a couple of folks working on a software that in the 
current release needs two independent packages.  Another developer needs 
one (a single one) file from them, but the file may change places.  They 
thought of adding a virtual provides, but it seems overkill in this case 
and it is probably only temporary (which would mean we would use a name 
unnecessarily and regret later). So the best way around it was to 
require the file, at least until the set of packages stabilize on a 
future version of the dependency.

Perhaps a "recommendation" guideline?  (if there is such a thing)

>> 2) If we still use file deps for things in /bin /sbin /usr/bin 
>> /usr/sbin, which happens for all GCJ compiled packages, wouldn't it 
>> force the reading of the second file anyways?
> 
> No, just for items *outside* of those locations does yum need extra 
> processing.  That's the whole point of this exercise.
> 

Ah, thanks for the clarification.  The use of file deps prevents an 
optimization to kick in.

Is this list complete: /bin /sbin /usr/bin /usr/sbin ?
Or there are others that do not cause the loading of the second file?


Regards,
Fernando