Installing specific packages on demand (was: Re: proposal: remove KTextEditor interface from kdelibs repository)

[Sune Vuorela]

On 2011-02-01, Friedrich W. H. Kossebau <kossebau at kde.org> wrote:
> We can't assume for all, but in many installations the user does. Like the 
> ususal private computer.
> For administrated systems, there could be a substitute which instead of 
> allowing to install rather aids the user to file a request to the admin, for 
> convenience and getting things done.
>
>> and we shouldn't set up a complete development
>> environment for him.
>
> I was thinking of interfacing to the normal packaging system of the system. 
> He, something like DrKonqi installing the debug info packages on request. So 
> something like that is existing already, just needs to be generalized perhaps.

Basically, a piece of software than have three relations:
1) Required things
2) Optional things that should be availably by default
3) optional things that doesn't need to be available by default

Packagers should assure that 1) is around. Packagers should try hard to
make 2) available for all not uncommon installations.

if 1) is missing, file bugs at the distribution.
if 2) is missing, file bugs at the distribution or alternatively tell
the user "you broke your system, you get to keep the pieces".

And then there is the handling of 3).

Well.. let's not make it a bigger issue than it actually is.

/Sune