Opened 16 years ago

Closed 16 years ago

Last modified 16 years ago

#12865 closed defect (invalid)

MacPorts should use Apple-provided software instead of building another one

Reported by: cmconnelly (Claire Connelly) Owned by: macports-tickets@…
Priority: Normal Milestone:
Component: ports Version: 1.5.0
Keywords: Cc: cmconnelly (Claire Connelly), jmpp@…, nox@…,markd@…
Port:

Description

git-core depends on OpenSSH. Rather than use the OpenSSH installed as part of the operating system, MacPorts installs a duplicate copy of OpenSSH.

MacPorts would be easier to use and a lot less annoying if it didn't insist on installing its own copies of software that is provided by the system and works perfectly well. Perl, Python, Ruby and similar languages with modules supplied by MacPorts are fine, but MacPorts should use the standard system software unless there's some required feature that's not supplied by the system version.

Change History (6)

comment:1 Changed 16 years ago by nox@…

Cc: cmc@… jmpp@… nox@… added
Milestone: MacPorts base bugs
Summary: git-core installs duplicate copy of OpenSSHMacPorts should use Apple-provided software instead of building another one

Short version: No.

Long version:
This has already been discussed a lot, and every debate concluded that we should never use Apple-provided software, with the exception of X11. Playing well with Apple software would add uneeded complexity to the dependencies schemes which are already in a mess.

Anyway, I'm not a base/ developer, so I'm adding jmpp to the Cc list.

comment:2 Changed 16 years ago by afb@…

Saying "port:openssh" (like git-core does) means that one *wants* the MacPorts version of OpenSSH.

If one instead just needs any old version of it, the Portfile syntax to use is instead: "bin:ssh:openssh"

=> NOTABUG

comment:3 Changed 16 years ago by afb@…

Oh, failed to notice that N_Ox had changed the summary/group from the original ticket...

What I meant was that it's not a bug in "base", but might well be one in "git-core" port.

comment:4 Changed 16 years ago by markd@…

We consider installing MacPorts for dependencies except when not feasible for special reasons because we've found the alternatives are worse. Those who don't have to face the alternatives while supporting others will never understand this. And I've been able to fix a number of port bugs and runtime problems by simply using MP dependencies for older ports that used the bin: style dependencies. Anyway, after facing these alternatives for awhile we've written this policy into the documentation, man pages, and FAQs, so I really don't see why we should keep this ticket open.

comment:5 Changed 16 years ago by markd@…

Cc: markd@… added
Resolution: invalid
Status: newclosed

comment:6 Changed 16 years ago by jmpp@…

Milestone: MacPorts base bugs
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