Re: [gentoo-dev] Cleaning tree of outdated packages

[Mike Frysinger]

On Thursday 13 December 2012 13:59:40 Jory A. Pratt wrote:
> Well there are exceptions to every rule, it is the ideal to get a
> discussion to make a better decision as to when a revision of a package
> should be removed and no longer supported. Well many slots can be useful
> for many packages, there has to be a time we start removing them older
> slots that just are not practical any longer.

seeing as how the gcc ebuilds are maintained by the toolchain group which is 
entirely active, i frankly don't care what people think should happen to them.  
don't take this personally because it isn't -- i'll say the same thing to 
anyone who says drop the older gcc ebuilds yet isn't maintaining them.  i'll 
probably listen a bit more to a toolchain member, but since that number is low 
and they haven't been complaining ...

the expectation with the older slots is that they'll get updates on a per-case 
basis.  generally, if the fix exists and the backport isn't crazy, i'll do it.  
considering the steady influx of requests, i'm pretty sure that these do serve 
a useful purpose to people.

no one is suggesting that people have to support packages with older gcc 
versions (or if they are, then tell them to not be dumb).  we already close 
bugs filed related to gcc versions older than current stable as "upgrade to 
stable".  if a maintainer decides they want to add a particular change, then 
that's their call.

don't like the older versions ?  don't install them.  problem solved.  they 
aren't causing issues otherwise.
-mike