[gentoo-dev] No automatic RDEPEND=DEPEND for ebuild and eclass anymore

[Sven Wegener <swegener@gentoo.org>]

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Hi all!

OK, subject isn't fully the truth. Portage doesn't set RDEPEND=DEPEND
for eclasses. So, please check your eclasses and if they only set DEPEND
and you need the RDEPEND=DEPEND thing, go ahead and add it to the
eclass!

For the ebuild part the plan is to remove the automatic RDEPEND=DEPEND
setting from portage. I can hear you scream:

- "But that's a nice feature!"
- "It makes my life easier. Don't do it!"

Here are the reasons for removing it:

- RDEPEND is the only variable that gets this special treatment. Less
  confusion, if we remove the "magic" from RDEPEND.
- The ebuild should clearly say what it needs and not rely on portage
  deciding the RDEPEND=DEPEND bit.
- Developers are just setting DEPEND and leave RDEPEND alone, which
  results in unnecessary RDEPENDs. The removal will (hopefully) make
  developers pay more attention and result in cleaner dependencies.
- eclasses don't have the automatic RDEPEND=DEPEND thing, the change
  will streamline ebuilds and eclasses to be treated equally.

Cheers,
Sven

-- 
Sven Wegener
Gentoo Developer
http://www.gentoo.org/

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