[maemo-developers] How to get a general utility package cross-listed from tools to extras?

[From: Eero Tamminen]

Hi,

ext tz wrote:
> I am writing a package that uses the bluez-utils-test, which are a set
> of configuration utilities for the bluez stack and there are some
> functions there which aren't available (or have side-effects) using
> dbus or other things on the platform.  There are probably others.  The
> big two are rfcomm and l2ping.  l2ping since for trusted devices will
> search for the device with the least interference and resource
> consumption (anything else will all but shut off wifi), and rfcomm
> because the interface is simple.  The others are also useful.  They
> are like ifconfig, iwconfig, iwlist, mount and other utilities which
> are included.
> 
> The problem is they are only visible in "red-pill-mode" or with an apt-get.

Why that is a problem?  If your UI package needs them, you should
add a dependency to them.


> There are probably other utilities (things like traceroute, socat,
> etc.) which strictly are utilities, not just SDK or developer items.
> GCC, probably not.
> 
> So first I'm asking if anyone else knows of packages that are only
> available in red-pill mode, but are generally useful.

Define "generally".  For me "strace" (in maemo tools repo) is
"generally" more useful than for example "socat". :-)


> And second, if something could be created to "vote" a package into
> extras or a user section.
> 
> Right now, such packages are in limbo - Nokia distributes it and
> generally insures it works for development but doesn't support it for
> user installation.  But because it is a Nokia package, it isn't going
> to be supported or accessible by users.  Some of these are auxiliary
> programs that go with the features, in the case of blues-utils-test,
> the bluez stack, which they have to be kept in sync with.

Packages in "user" sections should really be something visible to normal
user (go to application menu, have icon and UI, be translated etc), not
things for which you need command line.

For command line things, install ssh and do the command line stuff
on the device from your desktop, install stuff with apt-get etc.
(it's anyway much nicer for installing a large amount of packages
and you see the potential issues immediately instead of needing
to click your way into "View log" dialog).


 > Or do I just have to create a garage project for the identical
 > packages, then submit them for moving into extras?  Then what if Nokia
 > updates the base package?

I still fail to see the problem you're trying to solve.
Or are you worried about cross-repository dependencies?

Marius/Quim, any opinion on whether the Nokia provided tools packages
should go to extras instead of the SDK/tools repository?


	- Eero