[aur-general] optional dependencies that require explicit installation

[Michael Schubert]

Thank you Xyne and others, that was very helpful.

I'm going to build standard bindings (Perl, Python) and add commented lines
for the other ones.

Michael

2011/5/18 Xyne <xyne at archlinux.ca>

> On 2011-05-18 00:14 +0800 (20:3)
> Ray Rashif wrote:
>
> > On 17 May 2011 18:14, Michael Schubert <mschu.dev at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > 2011/5/17 Ray Rashif <schiv at archlinux.org>
> > >
> > >>
> > >> That's the way it's done. You have those optdeps as makedeps so you
> > >> can finish building the package.
> > >>
> > >
> > > Sorry if I was a bit unclear earlier. The make process does not need
> all
> > > binding languages as dependencies as cmake and configure take care of
> > > preventing those from being built. So the make works fine with no
> optional
> > > dependencies installed.
> >
> > When you're distributing any modular package that, when installed with
> > all usable dependencies, would provide full software functionality,
> > someone (the builder/packager) has to initially configure and build
> > the software with everything in place.
> >
> > * So, you first install all usable deps, build it, then remove the
> > unimportant deps (thus making them makedeps + optdeps).
> >
> > If a dep cannot be removed (when a particular part of the software
> > complains about something missing or does not work as expected), then
> > it cannot be an optional dependency. Sometimes, in order to appease
> > everyone, you must build and depend on deps that not everyone would
> > need, because those deps are link-level or hardcoded once used (to
> > build).
> > .
> > You don't have to build multiple packages just because of this, unless
> > we're talking about a rather large software compilation/bundle.
> >
> > But yes, you may split the package in the end. If it is easier for you
> > then build as many times within the PKGBUILD as needed, to for example
> > a different directory each time. Then you can package separately and
> > the result is a split package. Do this only if building in the
> > optional support actually leads to unwanted bulk for those not needing
> > the optional functionality.
> >
> >
> > --
> > GPG/PGP ID: 8AADBB10
>
> Rephrasing and adding to what's already been said, the ideal would be to
> provide separate *non-mutually-exclusive* packages for each binding
> (python-foo, perl-foo, etc). That would let each user install exactly what
> they
> want.
>
> If that is not possible, then build the package with support for the
> default
> bindings, or whichever bindings are most common across distros if there are
> no
> official defaults. If binding support for foo requires that foo be
> installed *at
> runtime* (i.e. the package will display warnings and or not run without
> foo),
> then make foo a dependency (depends) of the package. If binding support
> only
> requires that foo be present at build time, make foo a build dependency
> (makedepends) and an optional dependency (optdepends).
>
> Users who wish to add or remove binding support not provided by the default
> package can simply edit the PKGBUILD and build a customized version. To
> facilitate this, split the build options across different lines in the
> PKGBUILD
> and comment the non-default bindings so other users can easily modify them.
> Add
> a few comments to remind users about updating the depends, makedepends and
> optdepends arrays when necessary.
>
> Regards,
> Xyne
>
>