Re: [tlug] First impressions of Gentoo

[Josh Glover <jmglov@example.com>]

On 26/01/06, Stephen J. Turnbull <stephen@example.com> wrote:

> Only because the USE flags aren't flexible enough.  (Yes, I read ahead
> in the thread.  Pppphhhlbbtbtbtbtt!)  There should be a way to say
> "this package is optional until required or explicitly requested".

That is exactly how USE flags work. The only problem is that the
default profile turns the X USE flag on, and you want it off.

My point was that there should be a profile specifically for X-less
machines where the X flag is *not* enabled by default, and that
instructions for choosing that profile be included early enough in the
install documentation to save you from sucking in X with links / lynx.

If you set the "-X" USE flag, it behaves exactly as you mentioned
above: X will *not* be pulled in unless it is required (i.e. the
ebuild includes it unconditionally in [R]DEPEND[1]), and you can
always set it optionally on a per-package or per-emerge basis.

The "optional until installed" behaviour that you mention actually is
in Portage now, but they are phasing it out, since it has caused more
problems than it has solved. Meaning, of course, that your use case is
probably only what %1 or less of all users want. :)

-Josh

[1] http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/devrel/handbook/handbook.xml?part=2&chap=1#doc_chap5

PS: Sorry for the dup, Steve. Meant to reply to the list, of course.