[gentoo-dev] client/server consistency: USE flags / split packages

[Peter Volkov <pva@gentoo.org>]

Hi. How do we handle packages that provide client, server, and possibly
extra tools/libraries? Do we split packages like binary distros do or do
we use USE flags? What USE flags? Currently some packages are split
other use client, server or minimal USE flag(s).

Back in 2006 similar problem was discussed many times with no final
resolution - it was hard to ban split packages since portage had no
support for USE deps. Also some packages started to utilize 'minimal'
USE flag to force users read USE flag description and thus reduce its
usage and lower number of bugs due to not-installed parts of package.

With EAPI=2 both use deps and USE defaults (if necessary) are here so
it's possible to introduce some guidelines:

1. do not split packages; use USE flags and USE deps.
2. stop using minimal USE flag to build client or sever only.


So are there any good reasons to split packages?


https://bugs.gentoo.org/12499 but many similar disscussions were on this
list...

-- 
Peter.