[Pkg-javascript-devel] node-katex_0.10.2+dfsg-2_amd64.changes REJECTED

[Sean Whitton]

Hello Pirate,

On Mon 22 Jun 2020 at 12:58AM +0530, Pirate Praveen wrote:

> We usually use Provides instead of splitting when we can remove the Depends on the interpreter. For example node-clipboard provides libjs-clipboard.js. This works when the node package does not ship a user facing significant executable. User facing executable as separate binary was recognized as a valid reason by CTTE in the ruling I quoted in my first reply.
>
> In case of this particular package, katex binary also provide a command line interface via katex command. So we cannot drop the depends on nodejs (rc bug, nodejs is not an optional component but the interpreter needed to run the katex program). Avoiding unnecessary dependency on interpreters was achieved in all previous instances by removing the dependency on pure libraries. We expect whichever user facing program depending on the library to set Depends on the interpreter. For example gitlab depending on nodejs is enough for node-clipboard to satisfy dependency on nodejs. In this case katex itself is a user facing program not tied to nodejs development (it is used for maths typesetting). So we cannot reasonably expect a user wanting to use katex will have nodejs installed already.

Would someone want to use libjs-katex without nodejs installed?

> I thought the CTTE guideline on this specific case of user facing executable was enough. They could have just asked for an explanation before rejecting.

You should ensure it's visible in the source package, in
README.{source,Debian} and/or d/changelog.

-- 
Sean Whitton