Re: Stop shipping static libraries for NetBSD

["Greg A. Woods; Planix, Inc." <woods%planix.ca@localhost>]

On 19-Aug-08, at 4:55 PM, Alan Barrett wrote:

> On Mon, 18 Aug 2008, Greg A. Woods; Planix, Inc. wrote:
> > To me it is just as sad that NetBSD, in its role as as a binary-only
> > vendor, would like to take the same attitude that Sun and Apple and
> > Microsoft have done and also force everyone providing source-based
> > software to those using those binary-only distributions to be totally
> > locked into the "everything must be dynamic all the time" mindset.
>
> Please distinguish between what Jason wants and what NetBSD wants.
> Also, I don't think even Jason wants what you describe above.

Yes, I agree Jason's proposal isn't NetBSD policy yet.

I'm not sure what Jason really wants, beyond beyond the simplest form  
of his proposal to stop shipping static libraries in the binary  
distributions.  I suspect there's more to it than just that though,  
and that's part of what I'm worried about.


> By the way, I am opposed to the idea of no longer shipping static
> libraries by default, which is what I think Jason was proposing.  I am
> also opposed to the idea of no longer having the ability to build  
> static
> libraries, which is what I think that you thought Jason was proposing.


Yes, I think I'm clear on what it means to not ship static libraries  
but still have the ability to build them. In fact that's what I was  
talking about.  Users of a binary NetBSD distribution that does not  
include static libraries would be forced to build dynamic-only  
applications whenever they compile something from source, be it their  
own creation, other NetBSD-related source, or some third party source.

I haven't said so clearly yet, and perhaps this is what is coming out  
of what I have said so far, but I am indeed worried that not providing  
static libraries in the default binary distribution would be pushing  
NetBSD well over the edge of a slippery slope that I for one do not  
ever want to slide down.

I am quite pleased to see that you and so many other NetBSD developers  
and users are opposed to this proposal.

--
                                        Greg A. Woods; Planix, Inc.
                                        <woods%planix.ca@localhost>