Request for ARB dependency rule changes

[Jono Bacon]

On 3 February 2012 12:37, Michael Hall <mhall119 at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> We currently have over 50 different Lenses and Scopes being developed to
> extend the functionality of the Unity Dash, being made by more than a
> dozen different developers both inside the company and without.
>
> The design of the Lens API specifically gives these developers the
> ability to work independently, but still allow their different pieces to
> work together.  Lens authors don't need to specify every available Scope
> written by other people, and Scope authors don't need to submit their
> work for approval by Lens authors.  It was very deliberately designed to
> allow this.
>
> Now we want to start getting those 50+ additions to Unity available to
> users through the Software Center, so we are having them packaged and
> submitted to the ARB.  The issue we've run into is that the ARB's
> currently policy does not allow different source packages in the extras
> repository to depend on each other.  So while the Unity API has made it
> possible for me to write a Scope without having to submit it to the Lens
> author for approval, the current ARB rules won't allow it unless I get
> the Lens author to include it in their own source package, or the Lens
> package gets moved to the Universe repository.
>
> Because of this I am requesting either an alteration to the current ARB
> rules on dependencies, or an exception specifically for Unity lenses and
> scopes, that will allow us to distribute these valuable and popular
> enhancements to all of our users through the Software Center.

I think this makes sense. We have an awesome stream of lenses coming
in, but ultimately, there will be more scopes than lenses so this
poses a challenge.

In terms of quality my view is that the Software Center is equipped
with the tools for users to express dissatisfaction with the quality
of something and that will help users to choose the best
lenses/scopes. If anything really breaks we can always remove it and
ask the dev to fix it.

+1 from me so we can get more content in the software center.

   Jono

-- 
Jono Bacon
Ubuntu Community Manager
www.ubuntu.com / www.jonobacon.org
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