Steve Langasek wrote: > On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 09:46:15AM +0100, Giacomo A. Catenazzi wrote: >>> Given that m-t-a is mentioned explicitly in policy, and that "default-mta" >>> will be a virtual package, I think this should be recorded in policy as well >>> - though if a clear consensus emerges on debian-devel, there's no need to go >>> through the policy process before filing bugs. > >> Hmmm. I partially agree, but then we have an unnecessary exception: >> such virtual packages must have only one "provider", or else there >> will be problems (IIRC) on dpkg, apt or ddbuild, if such dependency >> is declared as first dependency [1]. > >>From the definition of the virtual package in question, it should have only > one provider at a time.
And this is an exception, which I want to avoid. So let try to work around with "normal package". If we fail, I agree with the virtual package. >> I would prefer to create a real empty package: >> default-mta (maybe in a source package debian-defaults), which depends >> on exim. > > This unavoidably couples Debian's choice of a default MTA for users who > install the new release, to the behavior for users who are upgrading from a > previous release, because users who have such a 'default-mta' package > installed will find their MTA changed on dist-upgrade. What about an other level of indirection: package debian-mta: Depends: exim | mta-mail-transfer-agent I think this case will solve upgrades, and changing easily the mta (without causing a failed dependency). ciao cate -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-devel-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org