https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=235498 Joseph.Comfort@asu.edu changed: What |Removed |Added ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Status|NEEDINFO |NEW Info Provider|Joseph.Comfort@asu.edu | ------- Comment #2 from Joseph.Comfort@asu.edu 2007-01-18 12:25 MST ------- I see your point, but I don't think it is sufficient _in practice_. There are 2 kinds of dependencies. One is an actual software dependency where one rpm package will not function unless another one (e.g., a library) is also present. These are critical dependencies. The other is one I would call a "recommended association" as in "If you want this, then you must also have that because it is what I do." Such an association (which limits freedom) might be helpful to someone's productivity, but the system will not fail or crash if it is not used. I am very, very conservative about 'ignore.' It can lead to very unexpected and disastrous results. Because there are now two meanings of dependency, there is no way for me to know which one is relevant for the 'ignore' option. If it is the second meaning, then 'deleting' the package association should break that tie -- provided that nothing else happens or I am informed specificially if it will. As mention above, unexpected things can be and are deleted without notification. If it is the first meaning, it is very unlikely that I would select 'ignore.' So, normally, I ignore 'ignore.' It is too risky, or I would need information at the level of a developer. The point is that ambiguous meanings have now crept in with the introduction (or at least the implementation) of patterns. As witnessed by the many bug reports, it can be and is confusing to people. Clarity during use is necesary. It will save time in having to explain things through bugzilla and mailinglists. Removing the second meaning of dependency would solve most or all of the problems. I think patterns is a useful concept as a higher classification of groups. Groups are narrowly focussed on particular tasks (and, of couse, need to be kept!), while patterns are related to broader working environments. The first meaning of dependency is needed; the second is not. Call it a 'recommended association' or just 'association,' but do not allow the system to treat the two things in the same way. The other problem related to patterns (not part of this bug) was the loss of the import/export feature in Software Management. I can't begin to tell you how annoying and frustrating that has been -- hours and hours spent trying to customize an installation (or, worse, a reinstallation) when a simple ascii file of a list of rpms (no xml needed) could get me close to what I wanted. A major blunder. There is a long-standing bug report, but I cannot see that work is being done on it. I can't imagine what is so hard about it. That alone makes me want to discard the patterns scheme entirely, but I'll be a little happier if we can make progress on the bug reported here. -- Configure bugmail: https://bugzilla.novell.com/userprefs.cgi?tab=email ------- You are receiving this mail because: ------- You are on the CC list for the bug, or are watching someone who is.