[csw-maintainers] Alternatives without automatic selection

[Dagobert Michelsen]

Hi Peter,

Am 26.11.2010 um 09:36 schrieb Peter FELECAN:
> Dagobert Michelsen <dam at opencsw.org> writes:
>> a question arose whetere it is allowed to have two alternatives
>> with the same priority. The idea is this: If the priorities are
>> the same the package which gets installed first is kept,
>> irregardless if other alternatives are installed later.
>> One usecase would be e.g. an MTA (like sendmail) which you
>> deliberately install and configure. Than, later, some other
>> program needs some other mailer which can act as MTA or MUA
>> which should not override what you have already configured.
>> You can of course always select alternatives manually.
>> 
>> This has the consequence that programs must be installed
>> in the same order they were removed as automatic same-prios
>> are not persistently saved on alternative-selection.
>> This may be necessary, though.
>> 
>> Ideas?
> 
> I'm not sure on what you're asking ideas...

Would you consider same priorities a bug or a feature?

> however, for the order of
> installation you have the installation date of the packages which gives
> you the order until an unsynchronized update is made; otherwise, the
> alternatives system can be enhanced to make persistent the alternative
> selection and priorities,

ATM it is persistent *only* if the selection was done manually.
If you have two packages pkg1 and pkg2 which are installed in
order and provide "soft" with the same priority then
pkg1.soft is selected and kept after installation of pkg2.
If you update, pkg1 is removed and pkg2.soft is selected.
On reinstallation of the newer pkg1 there is no switch-back
until pkg2 is also removed. So even automatic selection should
be noted and rolled back.

> if I'm understanding correctly, we now have a
> specific alternative system, isn't it? or is still based on the Linux
> one?

Yes, specific. CSW-custom-implemented.


Best regards

  -- Dago