[gentoo-desktop-research] Per-package USE descriptions

[gentoo-desktop-research] Per-package USE descriptions

[Joel Konkle-Parker]

I'd like to propose that we add per-package USE flag descriptions to the package
pages on http://packages.gentoo.org. I can't tell you how many times I've sat
and wondered what effect a particular flag has on a particular package, and the
use.desc descriptions are much too brief to give any kind of useful detail. For
example:

"What effect does USE="xml2" have on xfree?"
"Why does w3m need USE="imlib"?
"Why should I keep USE="berkdb"?

Other flags change meanings from package to package. USE="java" for gcc is for
java development. The same flag for mozilla is for java end-users.

I see the need to have some sort of USE listing on each package page that gives
human-readable descriptions that can be used to tell whether someone would want
a particular USE flag for a particular package. An extended package description
may by helpful as well.

While yes, this would take a lot of grunt-work, I think the value to Gentoo
users would be immeasurable. I'd also be more than happy to help.

Just my $0.02.


-- 
Joel Konkle-Parker
Webmaster [Ballsome.com]

Phone     [662-518-1636]
E-mail    [jjk3@msstate.edu]

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Re: [gentoo-desktop-research] Per-package USE descriptions

[Philippe Lafoucrière]

On Monday 08 December 2003 13:57, Joel Konkle-Parker wrote:
> I'd like to propose that we add per-package USE flag descriptions to the
> package pages on http://packages.gentoo.org. I can't tell you how many
> times I've sat and wondered what effect a particular flag has on a
> particular package, and the use.desc descriptions are much too brief to
> give any kind of useful detail. For example:
>
> "What effect does USE="xml2" have on xfree?"
> "Why does w3m need USE="imlib"?
> "Why should I keep USE="berkdb"?

please see /usr/portage/profiles/use.local.desc


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Re: [gentoo-desktop-research] Per-package USE descriptions

[Joel Konkle-Parker]

Quoting Philippe Lafoucrière <lafou@wanadoo.fr>:

> On Monday 08 December 2003 13:57, Joel Konkle-Parker wrote:
> > I'd like to propose that we add per-package USE flag descriptions to
> the
> > package pages on http://packages.gentoo.org. I can't tell you how
> many
> > times I've sat and wondered what effect a particular flag has on a
> > particular package, and the use.desc descriptions are much too brief
> to
> > give any kind of useful detail. For example:
> >
> > "What effect does USE="xml2" have on xfree?"
> > "Why does w3m need USE="imlib"?
> > "Why should I keep USE="berkdb"?
> 
> please see /usr/portage/profiles/use.local.desc

That's closer to what I'm talking about, but that only lists the effects of
local (non-standard) USE flags. I'm talking about local package-specific
descriptions for global flags.


-- 
Joel Konkle-Parker
Webmaster [Ballsome.com]

Phone     [662-518-1636]
E-mail    [jjk3@msstate.edu]

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