Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-project (60 mails)

[Rob OpenSuSE <rob.opensuse.linux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

2009/12/6 Egbert Eich <eich@xxxxxxx>:

> This brings back the question why we need the source RPM at all.
> The only reason I could think of is that people using other distros
> can easily download out sources.
> If openSUSE users would either resourt to OSC or to the software
> installation tools shipped by openSUSE (zypper, YaST, ...) we
> didn't even need SRPMS at all.

One use for src.rpm is after a release is not supported, at least in
theory it's possible to backport important updates, or have someone
look into a new bug which suddenly manifests after end of official
support, or say when a program frustratingly refuses to run
virtualised on a current machine because it doesn't recognise the CPU
as i386 family.  Also not needing to be "online" and connected with
openSUSE or Novell, provides more security against future unforeseen
events.

My main use for src.rpm has actually been with 3rd party software,
where I've needed to alter spec files, and make configure patches to
build manageable packages.  In the past, end users have also rebuilt
distro's to use different compile options for example "RevHat".

If source was to be provided another way, like build service, the
project would need to make the method much clearer.  We "know" how rpm
works, and that generates expecations, currently the updates hierarchy
has src directory in the hierarchy with ARCH dirs (like i586, x86_64 &
noarch).

Also what was delivered at GM and via update, ought to be archiveable
by end user, so needs like the OP's who requested source ISO by
download can be met.
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