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

[Bug Watch Updater]

** Changed in: libgems-ruby (Debian)
       Status: New => Fix Released

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/244742

Title:
  ruby1.8-dev should be recommended, not suggested

Status in “libgems-ruby” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “libgems-ruby” package in Debian:
  Fix Released

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?