[DRE-maint] [Bug 244742] Re: ruby1.8-dev should be recommended, not suggested

Launchpad Bug Tracker 244742 at bugs.launchpad.net
Thu Nov 4 12:20:47 UTC 2010


** Branch linked: lp:ubuntu/libgems-ruby

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ruby1.8-dev should be recommended, not suggested
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/244742
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Status in “libgems-ruby” package in Ubuntu: Fix Released
Status in “libgems-ruby” package in Debian: New

Bug description:
Currently, rubygems suggests ruby1.8-dev. However, ruby1.8-dev should be recommended instead--or even a full-blown dependency. If a gem requires it, it will produce unintelligible errors. For example, without ruby1.8-dev, installing the gem ruby-debug produces:

-------------------------
ERROR:  Error installing ruby-debug:
	ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension.

/usr/bin/ruby1.8 extconf.rb install ruby-debug
extconf.rb:1:in `require': no such file to load -- mkmf (LoadError)
	from extconf.rb:1
-------------------------

Apparently, mkmf is part of ruby1.8-dev, but how is someone who isn't familiar with building gems to know that?

When someone installs rubygems, it's reasonable to expect to get everything necessary for installing gems--unless rubygems itself takes care of any dependencies. With ruby1.8-dev as a recommended package, aptitude will install it automatically. If it remains suggested, then how many people will realize that it provides essential functionality? How many people regularly check to see which packages are suggested?







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