[Python-modules-team] Bug#524073: python-numpy: please split atlas support into an optional package

[Ondrej Certik]

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 2:51 PM, Neil Williams <codehelp at debian.org> wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:23:11 -0700
> Ondrej Certik <ondrej at certik.cz> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 10:09 AM, Neil Williams <codehelp at debian.org> wrote:
>> > Package: python-numpy
>> > Version: 1:1.2.1-1
>> > Severity: normal
>> >
>> > In #489253, ATLAS support was re-enabled.
>> >
>> > In #519233, python-gtk2 was made to depend on python-numpy.
>> >
>> > The net result is that something as small and simple as wicd now depends
>> > on libgfortran and libblas in unstable.
>> >
>> > I ran my own systems for some time without python-numpy, it was only that
>> > one issue in the sodoku game. I don't think that is sufficient justification
>> > for adding such a huge dependency chain like ATLAS.
>> >
>> > I was going to recommend wicd as the wireless network support tool for
>> > Emdebian Grip but I cannot do that if that means installing fortran!
>> >
>> > Making fortran essential for all GUI python support isn't going to help
>> > developments like openmoko or other embedded / small machine purposes.
>>
>> Yes, I agree, that this should be resolved. I always thought you can
>> install python-numpy without atlas. At least it used to be that way,
>> if this is not the case, it's a bug to be fixed.
>
> I think it's a result of the fix for #489253 - the option was
> re-enabled but the package was not split.
>
>> As to fortran, python-numpy needs gfortran to build (it contains some
>> fortran files). If all you need is just the binary package, I think it
>> could work without having gfortran installed.
>
> The particular dependencies I need to have as optional are those
> related to ATLAS and Lapack :
>
> libblas.so.3gf , liblapack.so.3gf and libgfortran3 .
>
> The following packages have unmet dependencies:
>  python-numpy: Depends: libblas3gf but it is not going to be installed
> or libblas.so.3gf or
>                         libatlas3gf-base but it is not installable
>                Depends: libgfortran3 (>= 4.3) but it is not installable
>                Depends: liblapack3gf but it is not installable or
>                         liblapack.so.3gf but it is not installable or
>                         libatlas3gf-base but it is not installable
> E: Broken packages
>
> (This comes from the Emdebian Grip repository which is a filtered
> repository and does not include all packages in Debian, just the ones
> most suitable for embedded devices. These particular packages are
> large and undesirable for embedded targets.)

I agree that this needs to be fixed. So your suggestion is to split
numpy into several packages? How exactly?

I am currently too busy to work on this, but if you know how to fix it
and do the work, I'll upload your changes, or let you upload it.

Thanks,
Ondrej