[gentoo-dev] making metadata.xml pay off and removing pkg_postinst crud

[Mike Frysinger]

right now we're doing all our informative output inside pkg_postinst simply 
because it's the last function run by emerge when emerging a new pkg ...
this is really not the reason pkg_postinst was created (displaying informative 
output to the user), but i havent said anything before because we never had a 
solution to 'fix' the situation ...

but now ive got it !  lets finally use metadata :)
i propose we add a section, maybe call it <howto> or <postinstconfig> or 
something similar, or maybe have a few considering there are a few steps to 
take when properly using some packages ... plus we wouldnt have to worry 
about logging said informative output with some kludge that portage 
implements because the user missed the message as it flew by his screen in a 
multi-merge process ...
we extend the use of '-h' in emerge ...

for example, say i want to know 'howto' setup mysql ...
root@vapier 0 root # emerge --help dev-db/mysql
You might want to run:
ebuild /var/db/pkg/dev-db/mysql-4.0.14/mysql-4.0.14.ebuild config
if this is a new install.
it will auto generate the basic mysql databases for you.

or, i just installed these sexy new X cursors ...
root@vapier 0 root # emerge --help x11-themes/silver-xcursors
To use this set of cursors, edit or create the file ~/.Xdefaults
and add the following line:
Xcursor.theme: Silver

Also, you can change the size by adding a line like:
Xcursor.size: 48

To globally use this set of mouse cursors edit the file:
   /usr/share/cursors/xfree/default/index.theme
and change the line:
   Inherits=[current setting]
to
   Inherits=Silver
Note this will be overruled by a user's ~/.Xdefaults file.

If you experience flickering, try setting the following line in
the Device section of your XF86Config:
Option  "HWCursor"  "false"

if people like the idea, ill put together a bug and/or some portage patches
-mike

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