Subject: Re: CVS commit: src/libexec/httpd
To: Bill Stouder-Studenmund <wrstuden@netbsd.org>
From: Mindaugas R. <rmind@NetBSD.org>
List: tech-userlevel
Date: 10/17/2007 01:55:24
Bill Stouder-Studenmund <wrstuden@netbsd.org> wrote:
> But we aren't doing this for one vendor. We aren't doing this for two 
> vendors. We're doing this because a number of NetBSD users, both 
> organizations and individuals, use bozohttpd and because a developer wants 
> to check it in.

I guess there are hundreds of organizations or individuals using Apache, PHP
and MySQL, but it is not a reason to import this into the base. Please use a
pkgsrc/www/bozohttpd package.

> > - I do not think that many users in our community are interested on this;
> 
> Yes, but how many of them really care one way or the other?

You can count at least few :) However, it does not mean that "who cares" is a
correct way to go.

> > - User should decide what software he wants to use;
> 
> So? The fact that it's in base doesn't mean you have to use it. :-)

I think it is wrong approach to force the user to have it.

> > - This software is not NetBSD-specific, that is, it does not need some
> >   services of our kernel;
> 
> This description covers a number of things we have in base.

Yes, and I think some software, eg. Postfix and Bind, should be a syspkgs
provided as the options, but not requirements.

> > - I think a better abstraction is to separate third party applications,
> > and provide packages. Putting the software into the source base requires
> >   additional maintaining, not vice-versa;
> 
> I doubt that for this code. I agree that there are a number of apps for 
> which it could well be a problem. But not this one.

Bill, it does not matter for "this" or for "that" code, I consider it as a
wrong direction to go. Approach is to have a dynamic, flexible system with the
packages and modules, not a single, huge, static base entity.

> > - Again, as a user I wont have a software in the base which perhaps never
> >   ever going to use;
> 
> So exactly how much of base do you rip out after an install? :-)

This does not reply to my argument.
In case you are interested - I would not install Postfix and Bind from the
base in nearly all cases (because I need the versions from pkgsrc, or they
are just not used) :)

-- 
Best regards,
Mindaugas
www.NetBSD.org