2011/2/5 Gergely Imreh <imrehg@gmail.com>:
Hi,
Recently a couple of my packages have been moved to Community but the process feels a little uneasy to me.
First of all remove that "my" before packages, that's a problem, some maintainers thinks that they're owners of the PKGBUILD, and isn't like this, all PKGBUILDS belongs to the Arch Linux project, and you contribute with them if you want, isn't an obligation.
My impression is that AUR is treated as a "second class" source of packages compared to the official repos. Not surprising, of course, so many packages have problems. This is also underlined by the fact that yaourt and other AUR managers are not allowed in the official repos, as "not to give the impression that AUR is official" (paraphrasing what I've read before).
Not at all, many of the packages on official repos belongs to AUR in sometime, AUR is a playground, where you can find scripts for install (PKGBUILD) experimental software.
If there is indeed this divide, it feels more than little weird, that popular packages are just taken in to Community without even asking the current managers. It gives me the message that "AUR has no value, except when we say it has, at which time thanks for your work but now bugger off". I beg your pardon, if it comes through too harsh. I wouldn't have objected to have those packages moved. I, however, object to unilateral decisions.
My proposition is: could it be a policy to check with the maintainer first before initiating a move? If someone wants to keep a package then they should be able to, especially since they could not have been doing such a a bad job if their package has become popular.
Absolutely no, as I said PKGBUILD doesn't belongs to anybody, just the project, if a Dev or TU take one of them and move it to any official repo is good to you, that means that the software that you were packaging by hand it will be on binary 'cause is pretty stable and not experimental at all. I understand your point about, I'm giving my time and receive nothing, well dude, you should give without expecting anything, and you will be more happier. I also understand the point about TU/Devs didn't said anything to the PKGBUILD that you were maintaining will become a package, well, maybe a little courtesy from the TU or Dev who did this is good, but he doesn't have to ask your permission, remember you contribute with the project giving your effort on those PKGBUILD but that doesn't imply that you are owner of those PKGBUILD. Thanks for contributing with the Arch Linux project, And I hope now you will contribute without hoping regalies or something.
Cheers, Greg
-- Angel Velásquez angvp @ irc.freenode.net Arch Linux Developer / Trusted User Linux Counter: #359909 http://www.angvp.com