Re: [gentoo-dev] RFC: Proposal for addition of distribution variables

[Brian Dolbec]

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On Sun, 4 Dec 2016 17:31:30 -0600

"A. Wilcox" <awilfox@×××××××××××.org> wrote:



> ===============================================
> Proposal for addition of distribution variables
> ===============================================
>
> :Author:
>   A. Wilcox (Adélie Linux)
> :Date:
>   2016-12-04
> :Status:
>   Request for Comment
>
>
>
>
> Introduction
> - ------------
>
> This proposal outlines the addition of environment variables to a
> future EAPI for the purposes of identifying the builder of packages,
> and a route for their more immediate addition to the Gentoo package
> tree before the next EAPI is published.
>
>
> Background
> - ----------
>
> The Gentoo package repository is used not only by thousands of users,
> but also used by other distributions and organisations, such as
> Funtoo, CoreOS, and Google ChromeOS.  From the Gentoo Foundation's own
> charter, it self-describes in the following way: "Gentoo is a
> metadistribution".  That allows users to make their own flavours of
> Gentoo themselves.  Several forks already exist, including Exherbo,
> Funtoo, Sabayon, Galapagos, Vida, and Calculate.  Google also
> maintains a fork, ChromeOS, for their Chromebook laptops.  CoreOS also
> uses Gentoo's repository for their distribution.  In addition, there
> are also binary distributions such as Pentoo and Adélie that provide
> additional value but are not, in so many words, a 'fork' of Gentoo.
>
>
> Current Situation
> - -----------------
>
> Currently, forks and derivatives of Gentoo are required to choose one
> of only two options.  They can either use the tree as is, which causes
> packages to identify as being built for Gentoo and causes most
> autoconf -based packages (and some CMake packages in KDE) to have
> their bug report URLs to point to bugs.g.o.  Alternatively, they can
> fork the Git repository, requiring the need of manual merges when
> conflicts arise, and additional wasted effort when upstreams release
> new versions of software.
>
>
> Deficiencies
> - ------------
>
> If a fork or derivative of Gentoo does not have the manpower or
> resources to modify all ebuilds that mention the Gentoo name / bug URL
> (about 1500 at my last count), then both distributions suffer.  Users
> of the fork will file bugs with Gentoo that are not bugs in Gentoo.
> Developers of the fork will not know about said bugs, and be unable to
> fix them.  Gentoo bug-wranglers and devs will have to waste time and
> resources testing bugs, finding out they are not even Gentoo bugs, and
> closing them as WONTFIX or WORKSFORME.
>
> If they choose the alternative of forking the repository and changing
> these parameters in ebuilds, then it makes upstreaming their
> improvements much more difficult.  Sabayon has a repository on GitHub
> specifically for this, and Adélie wastes continual effort applying
> patches against the tree as it evolves.
>
>
> Solution Objectives
> - -------------------
>
> * Protect Gentoo's name, trademark, and reputation by avoiding any
>   appearance that derivative distributions are associated with Gentoo.
>
> * Lessen number of inappropriate bugs filed on bugs.g.o due to forks
> and derivatives.
>
> * Foster better collaboration and sharing of improvements between
>   Gentoo and its forks/derivatives.
>
> * Future potential changes to the bug report URL, while exceedingly
>   unlikely, is additionally made easier.
>
>
> Solution Vision
> - ---------------
>
> I hereby propose adding the following two variables to the src_*
> phases.  None of these variables will have a default specified in PMS
> if they are added.
>
> :``${DISTRO}``:
>   The name of the distribution.  This would be set in
>   ``profiles/base/make.defaults`` on Gentoo to "Gentoo".
>
> :``${DISTRO_BUG_URL}``:
>   The URL to use to report bugs with software on the distribution.
>   This would be set to "https://bugs.gentoo.org/" on Gentoo.
>
> By replacing references to 'Gentoo' passed to ./configure, make, etc
> with ``${DISTRO}``, distributions like Sabayon, Calculate, and Adélie
> will be able to notate their name as the distributor on packages.
> This will affect packages such as LibreOffice, OpenRC, X.Org, and KDE,
> which are all compiled with the name of the distribution internally.
> They use this for bug information, and having the proper distribution
> name will allow for more proper bug handling and ensure less
> inappropriate blame is assigned to Gentoo.  This also ensures that the
> fork or derivative's own mailing lists, forums, and so on are searched
> and contacted before Gentoo's.
>
> By replacing references to 'bugs.gentoo.org' passed to ./configure
> with ``${DISTRO_BUG_URL}``, the Gentoo project will have a significant
> reduction in wasted effort handling inappropriately filed bugs when
> the issues are caused by changes by the forks and derivatives.
>
>
> Roadmap
> - -------
>
> Since the shell environment is flexible, this change can be
> implemented almost immediately; the defaults specified in the Gentoo
> base profile ensure that at worst nothing will immediately change.  As
> forks, derivatives, and other organisations change the environment
> variables in their profiles or ``make.conf`` files, all updated
> ebuilds will immediately reflect the changes.
>
> During this, the variables can be added to the EAPI=7 specification,
> and may eventually be added to PMS §11.1.
>
>
> Suggested Wording
> - -----------------
>
> Attached is a patch for pms.git with suggested wording for the two
> variables mentioned above.
>
> - --
> A. Wilcox (awilfox)
> Project Lead, Adélie Linux
> http://adelielinux.org




oooh, I like it :)



- -- 

Brian Dolbec <dolsen>



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