> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> > I have argued before that a2ps and a2gs are effectively replaced by
> > genscript, and that we should remove them. I think a similar case could be
Please don't do that. Personally, I am used to a2ps and I'm a lot more attached
to my habits than to genscript :-). And I don't see why we should retire a
package just because some other package with similar functionality is provided.
Think of the different flavours of vi which are available as debian packages.
But I see the point that lack of interest might be a reason to retire a
package. I can see two cases in which a package would be considered obsolete:
a) The package is obsolete because the functionality (in the low level sense
of, say, the programs provided) is moved into some other package(s). An example
would be what happened to libgr.
b) A package is orphaned for a long time and similar functionality (in the high
level sense, like genscript vs. a2ps) is provided by another package available.
Or the package is considered to be irrelevant for all but a small minority
which doesn't express its interest. Maybe such a package should be moved into
one directory like {unstable,non-free,contrib}/obsolete for a longer period (to
preserve the effort of debianizing the package in case someone wants to take it
up later). Eventually, packages can get purged from the obsolete directories if
nobody expresses interest in maintaining them.
By moving a package into one of the obsolete directories, the distribution
maintaines and/or the developers express their opinion that a given package is
not sufficiently important from their point of view. At the same time, this
acts as a final call for a new maintainer to step forward and express his
interest in keeping the package alive.
Lukas
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Lukas Nellen | Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Depto. de Fisica Teorica, IFUNAM |
Apdo. Postal 20-364 | Tel.: +52 5 622 5014 ext. 218
01000 Mexico D.F., MEXICO | Fax: +52 5 622 5015
