Bug#602457: Please remove package Unicode::Collate from perl-modules

[Niko Tyni]

forcemerge 602457 599486 
thanks

On Fri, Nov 05, 2010 at 01:45:53AM +0100, Danai SAE-HAN wrote:
> Package: perl-modules
> Version: 5.10.1-16
> Severity: normal

> I have just uploaded package `libunicode-collate-xs-perl' version 0.65-1
> to the repository.  This package replaces the Unicode::Collate package
> found in perl-modules, which is a somewhat older version.
> 
> Could you please remove the Unicode::Collate package from perl-modules?

No, you've misunderstood this.

Did you see http://lists.debian.org/debian-perl/2010/10/msg00100.html ?
Quoting Ansgar there:

> There is no need to remove it from perl-modules.  We already have
> several Perl modules that are shipped in both perl/perl-modules and a
> separate package, for example libversion-perl.  This does not cause any
> problems as they are installed in different locations and the perl
> interpreter will load the separate packaged modules first.
> 
> You should still notify the perl maintainers so they can include your
> package in the Provides field and older versions in the Conflicts field
> (that is older versions than included in perl-modules itself).

Please look at other dual lived modules to see how this is normally handled.
The result should be something like

 Package: perl-modules
 Provides:  [...], libunicode-collate-perl
 Replaces:  [...], libunicode-collate-perl
 Conflicts: [...], libunicode-collate-perl (<< 0.52)

The Provides: is so that packages that don't care about the exact version
and depend on just 'libunicode-collate-perl' will not unnecessarily pull
in the separate package.

The Conflicts: and Replaces: are so that upgrading the perl package
removes any possible older versions of Unicode::Collate that would
otherwise take precedence on @INC. At the moment this is not strictly
necessary as 0.65 is the first separately packaged version, so it would
only affect locally packaged older libunicode-collate-perl packages.
It doesn't hurt to introduce it straight away though.

Also, why do you call it libunicode-collate-xs-perl ? AFAICS the module
is still called Unicode::Collate, with or without the XS bits.

> I have added a Conflicts against `perl-modules (<= 5.10.1-16)' to ensure
> a proper transition.
 
I don't see the package you uploaded anywhere yet, but doesn't that
make it currently uninstallable? There's no need for it in any case,
the separate package should install in /usr/(share|lib)/perl5 and be
found first on @INC.

I'm merging this with your previous request, #599486. Let's keep them open
until the matter is settled.
-- 
Niko Tyni   ntyni at debian.org