Re: recommends/suggests patch

[Richard Braakman <dark@xs4all.nl>]

On Tue, Dec 14, 1999 at 12:08:44PM -0800, Joey Hess wrote:
> Richard Braakman wrote:
> > packages in main cannot _depend_ on non-main packages. They can
> > > however suggest and recommend them.
> > 
> > Incorrect.  Policy section 2.1.2 is explicit about this:
> > 
> >      In addition, the packages in "main"
> >         * must not require a package outside of "main" for compilation or
> >           execution (thus, the package may not declare a "Depends" or
> >           "Recommends" relationship on a non-main package),
> 
> That is seriously wacky. The parentetical aside and the rest of policy seem
> to disagree. Reccommends cannot be used in the first place if a package is
> needed for compilation or execution, so why is it even mentioned in the
> parens?

I think it's phrased awkwardly because the common meaning of "depends on"
and the technical meaning of "Depends on" interfere here.

Recommends means the packages will be found together "in all but unusual
installations".  That's definitely too strong a relationship with a
package outside of "main".

Richard Braakman