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GLEP 17: Resolution for Aging EBuilds

Author Caleb Tennis <[email protected]>
Type Standards Track
Status Deferred
Version 1
Created 2003-11-21
Last modified 2014-01-17
Posting history 2003-11-24
GLEP source glep-0017.rst

Abstract

Many of the ebuild scripts found within Gentoo's Portage have come as a direct result of user submission via Gentoo's Bugzilla interface. However, a large number of open ebuild requests remain in Bugzilla. This GLEP attempts to resolve these requests.

Status

Timed out

Motivation

As of the first draft of this GLEP, there are 1517 EBUILD bug requests in Gentoo's bugzilla database. These requests generally fall into three categories:

1. The package is important to Gentoo users, but has simply has not yet made its way into Portage.

  1. The package is mostly unimportant to Gentoo users
  2. No ebuild has been provided with the bug request.

Leaving these requests open does not help Gentoo. Not only does the bug count become artificially inflated, but bug maintenance also becomes more difficult adding to open requests that developers must sift through.

Furthermore, having a policy in place as to how ebuild bug requests are handled is important for consistency and accountability.

Rationale

Portage simply cannot contain an automated ebuild for every software package available. Ebuilds that are included are done so mostly based on the whim and knowledge of developers. Many software packages are of interest only to a small subset of end users, and as such would be a misuse of resources by including in Portage.

Implementation

This implementation applies only to requests which have been idle in the database for an extended period of time. The recommended time is 90 days.

After this period, the bugs should be handled in the follow manner:

  • The bug should be closed as a WONTFIX
  • The following note should be included in the description: No developer has sponsored the ebuild within 90 days of request. Closing per GLEP policy #xx

Repercussions

The (systematic) denial of the inclusion of ebuilds into the Portage tree may leave some users to feel slighted because their ebuild was not accepted into Portage. This is an unfortunate side effect of a system that relies on acceptance or denial.

Future

It may be desirable to provide an official repository for abandoned ebuilds to go. Any attachments to these bug reports could be placed here, so that the author's effort has not gone in vain.

Backwards Compatibility

No current policies exist that interfere with this document.

References

[1]GLEP 2, Sample ReStructuredText GLEP Template, Goodyear, (https://www.gentoo.org/glep/glep-0002.html)