On Tue, Jan 14, 2014 at 12:59:04PM -0800, Don Armstrong wrote: > On Tue, 14 Jan 2014, Niko Tyni wrote: > > I note that we really ship the script as /usr/bin/prename and manage > > /usr/bin/rename with the alternatives system. This was introduced due > > to #304705 but turned out to be completely useless: the intention was > > to offer the choice of /usr/bin/rename.ul from util-linux, but that > > didn't work out because the command line syntax is incompatible (see > > #439935). > > So long as the base command line syntax is compatible, then there isn't > really a problem with using alternatives to support them both. [I have > to admit that my advice in #304705 to support alternatives was naïve, as > alternatives need to share a common command line syntax.] > > > So the /usr/bin/rename syntax we've ended up with is very Perl specific > > and I think we're stuck with that. I'm Cc'ing Don Armstrong though, > > as he suggested using the alternatives system in #304705 and may have > > something to add. > > > > I suggest something like > > > > - package libfile-rename-perl > > - make it supply a better /usr/bin/rename with the alternatives system
libfile-rename-perl is now on its way to NEW. > > - make the old one from the perl package issue warnings, Recommend > > libfile-rename-perl for one release cycle > > I don't know if this is actually necessary. We could just have perl > depend on libfile-rename-perl once we remove debian/rename. Or just keep > rename as it is currently. But I'm OK with either option so long as > /usr/bin/rename keeps the same syntax. I think removing the rename from the Debian package is the best long-term option, otherwise we still end up carrying dead code around. The question of whether we carry around a Depends long-term rather depends on whether users generally consider rename a fundamental part of the perl package. It's certainly become quite a basic tools that I expect to see on Debian systems, but others may disagree. The alternative, of course, is for libfile-rename-perl to just be Standard, without any actual long-term dependencies. Cheers, Dominic. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
