[gentoo-dev] GLEP 29 (USE groups) and negatives

[Ciaran McCreesh <ciaranm@gentoo.org>]

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http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/glep/glep-0029.html

We need to decide upon a solution to the -flags problem. The proposed
solutions are:

1) Disallow all negatives. Disadvantages: we don't tend to disallow
things just because users could shoot themselves in the foot with them.

2) Allow negatives, and document how to use them correctly.
Disadvantages: sooner or later, some developer isn't going to read the
docs, and will really really screw things up with a misunderstanding.

3) Reorder USE flags. Disadvantages: can't disable flags set by a group.
Breaks existing USE lines.

4) Have portage warn on dodgy USE flag lines. Disadvantages: tricky,
hard for the end user to figure out.

5) Use some weird tristate notation. Disadvantages: not everyone has the
slightest clue what set theory is.

I'm in favour of 2) personally, but others disagree. I'd like a proper
discussion on this before trying to get the GLEP through.

-- 
Ciaran McCreesh : Gentoo Developer (Vim, Fluxbox, shell tools)
Mail            : ciaranm at gentoo.org
Web             : http://dev.gentoo.org/~ciaranm


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