On Aug 24, 2008, at 7:37 AM, Matthias Ringwald wrote: > > Hi > > I've had a look at the libar package in the package tracker (a lib to > handle tar files) > https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=414256&aid=2046989&group_id=17203 > > The original package does not use libtool and only builds static > libraries. > > I remember trying to submit a static library-only package and was > pushed to add build support to also create shared libs (which might be > quite challenging, if you're not to experienced with autotools and > libtool). > > On the fink doku ( > http://www.finkproject.org/doc/packaging/policy.php?phpLang=en > ), I've found this: > > "Software which has been ported to Darwin should build shared > libraries whenever possible. (Package maintainers are also free to > build static libraries as well, if appropriate for their packages; or > they may submit packages containing only static libraries if they > wish.)" > > So it should have them, but it does not have to. > > Debian fixes the build system to use libtool and creates shared > libraries by the way. ( http://packages.ubuntu.com/en/source/intrepid/libtar > ) > > What should we tell the submitter? He requires libtar for his VLC > package, so an alternative option might be to not have a libtar > package and just compile libtar as part of VLC. > > What's the general policy? No static-only? > Cheers, > Matthias > >
We do _try_ to get packages that can do so to use shared libraries, but we also allow packages that only have static libraries. The main drawback to them, as I see it, is that if the library package is updated, one has to rebuild anything that depends on it in order to incorporate the changes. I've found that modifications to a package seem to go much faster once it is in the distribution, so if somebody else wants libtar for one of their packages, then they may contribute to its eventual use of shared libraries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ _______________________________________________ Fink-devel mailing list Fink-devel@lists.sourceforge.net http://news.gmane.org/gmane.os.apple.fink.devel
