Issue #1515
closedpulp comps.xml usage doesn't jibe with fedora policy
Description
Our current comps.xml file[0] creates many package groups. In the strictest sense of a yum repository, our groups usage is probably just fine, but in the broader context of fedora, groups have a more specific meaning[1] that isn't really compatible with how we're currently using them. Specifically, package groups in fedora are distribution-wide, and visible in the fedora installer. Addition of groups to fedora is non-trivial, and requires buy-in from fedora devlopers. As a result, we should consider using alternatives to package groups so we can provide consistent install instructions across distributions while still respecting fedora conventions.
Fedora has very recently[2] added support to rpms for weak dependencies, but at the moment dnf doesn't appear to support them. While these are a good option, ideally any solution to this would be well-supported across all distributions where pulp installations are supported. This probably means using metapackages (packages that only depend on other packages) instead of package groups, and then probably sparingly and only in ways that benefit the average user.
tl;dr we probably shouldn't use groups so much
[0]: https://github.com/pulp/pulp/blob/73f178121522563fd9e8809ea824be409825f13a/comps.xml
[1]: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_use_and_edit_comps.xml_for_package_groups
[2]: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/devel/2015-July/212181.html
Updated by bmbouter almost 9 years ago
+1 to switching to meta packages for better integration for fedora. We picked comps.xml arbitrarily (I think) instead of using meta packages.
The use case that I believe is important is that once a user has decided to install pulp can install one thing and pulp gets installed.
Added by semyers over 8 years ago
Added by semyers over 8 years ago
Revision e00a852e | View on GitHub
docs mention the COPR projects, no more groupinstalls
groupinstall change: re #1515 https://pulp.plan.io/issues/1515
copr stuff: re #1993 https://pulp.plan.io/issues/1993
Updated by semyers over 8 years ago
Our docs from 2.10 onward no longer reference the comps groups for installing pulp. comps.xml and anything referencing it or the package groups should be fixed to no longer do either of those things.
Updated by bmbouter over 5 years ago
- Status changed from NEW to CLOSED - WONTFIX
Updated by bmbouter over 5 years ago
Pulp 2 is approaching maintenance mode, and this Pulp 2 ticket is not being actively worked on. As such, it is being closed as WONTFIX. Pulp 2 is still accepting contributions though, so if you want to contribute a fix for this ticket, please reopen or comment on it. If you don't have permissions to reopen this ticket, or you want to discuss an issue, please reach out via the developer mailing list.
docs mention the COPR projects, no more groupinstalls
groupinstall change: re #1515 https://pulp.plan.io/issues/1515
copr stuff: re #1993 https://pulp.plan.io/issues/1993