Re: [gentoo-dev] [PATCH 1/1] go-module.eclass: introduce new eclass to handle go modules

[Michael Orlitzky]

On 9/16/19 10:17 AM, William Hubbs wrote:
> +
> +# @FUNCTION: go-module_pkg_postinst
> +# @DESCRIPTION:
> +# Display a warning about security updates for Go programs.
> +go-module_pkg_postinst() {
> +	ewarn "${PN} is written in the Go programming language."
> +	ewarn "Since this language is statically linked, security"
> +	ewarn "updates will be handled in individual packages and will be"
> +	ewarn "difficult for us to track as a distribution."
> +	ewarn "For this reason, please update any go packages asap when new"
> +	ewarn "versions enter the tree or go stable if you are running the"
> +	ewarn "stable tree."
> +}
> +
> +fi
>

This word salad is 100% misinformation that gets tangled in itself
trying to apologize for what we're about to do:

  * Go is not a "statically linked language." There's gccgo, and as Alec
    pointed out, the official compiler has supported dynamic linking for
    years now.

  * Updating DOES NOT HELP AT ALL. That's the whole problem. You're
    trying to make it sound like we haven't thrown people under a bus,
    but saying "for this reason, please update..." is just misleading.

Here's what it should say:

  WARNING: due to a lack of manpower/interest, Go packages on Gentoo
  are statically linked. Contrary to our existing policies and what
  the website says, Go packages will never receive any security updates
  on Gentoo. Use at your own risk!