[gentoo-dev] Debug and strip control, USE flags/$DEBUG

[Dan Armak <danarmak@gentoo.org>]

Hi all,

The adding of USE flags is currently unregulated, so I thought I'd post to 
get a consensus.

Current status: a few ebuilds use env. var. $DEBUG, not explicitly set 
anywhere in gentoo config files, to enable debugging. The portage system uses 
it to disable automatic binary stripping. The flag is nowhere mentioned in 
gentoo docs (AFAIK), a user would have to know about it to enable debugging.

Suggestion: 1. make a $STRIP variable for portage instead. On by default. Set 
from make.* so the user can see it.
2. make a USE variable "debug", off by default, for all ebuilds to use.

Note: Right now there are several USE flags which don't have to do with 
packages: 3dnow mmx sse build final and maybe some other I missed. Hallski 
says adding of USE vars should be regulated somehow, I agree.

Ideas? comments?
-- 

Dan Armak
Gentoo Linux Developer, Desktop Team
Matan, Israel