Feature changed by: Karl Cheng (qantas94heavy) Feature #310803, revision 6 Title: Compatibility package - openSUSE-11.4: Unconfirmed + openSUSE-11.4: Rejected by Karl Cheng (qantas94heavy) + reject reason: Not done in time for openSUSE 11.4. Priority Requester: Important + openSUSE Distribution: Unconfirmed + Priority + Requester: Desirable Requested by: Sławomir Lach (lachu) Partner organization: openSUSE.org Description: The idea is to avoid incompatybility without stop distribution changes. We can change everythink, what we need, and after few months releases compatybility package, which installs library & other compatybility layers to software distributed on internal media(or outside a repository). We can also provide someprogramname-compatybility. Also, OpenSUSE can detects program medium by CDs label, to automatycally installs some packages(library) needed by this program. Use Case: 1) We can drop some packages(like GTK+-2.0) without risk. We only create package called "compatybility layer" and user, who installs software outside any repository will install it. 2) If we dropped GTK+-2.0 and OpenSUSE have feature to install compatybility package automatically based on CDs label, then user will only inserts a CD of this program. 3) We dropped GTK+-2.0 . User have downloaded some package by internet. He can search compatybility package by programname-compatybility. Business case (Partner benefit): openSUSE.org: We need this to avoid user frustration and do not block progress of OpenSUSE developing. It will works very similar to PlayOnLinux. If somebody have trouble with make program run on OpenSUSE and solves it, we only release special meta-package. Discussion: #1: Andreas Jaeger (a_jaeger) (2010-11-09 11:52:48) I think this is already solved with the shared library policy where you can install several versions of a library in parallel. Please read it at http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Shared_library_packaging_policy and tell us whether this solves your problem. #2: Sławomir Lach (lachu) (2010-11-26 18:27:28) (reply to #1) My idea was addresed to programs redistributet on CDs or with installators. Acctually user might to install each library by package manager, but not in parell - system suggest to install some library or giving symbol(export) to install and user are seing the same message after installation missing library. By compatybility packege uiser could install only one package and they can install each software released on OpenSUSE in history. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/310803