debram 0.4.1

[Thaddeus H. Black]

The debram-0.4.1 is now available in testing.

As Enrico has observed, it is intended to fold
debram's

  * data (this is big),

  * functionality (this is small and
    concise), and

  * lessons learned (these are hard-earned and
    should be carefully heeded)

into debtags.  Once this has properly been
accomplished, it is intended to withdraw the
debram from the archive.

It is hoped that debram's users will not be
dismayed.  As Evan has correctly pointed out on
this very list, the tagging of Debian packages
is not a task which bears competition well.
While it may be true that the debram is the more
complete system at the present time, it has
become my view---I hope that it will become your
view, too---that Enrico's basic debtags concept
is founded more solidly and is the better
concept: it has much more flexibility and is
better suited to accommodate Debian's future
growth.  In the meantime, the debram is
available now and is fully functional: it will
help you find the right Debian package to attack
nearly any computing problem.  Woody's 8500
packages are fully ramified and, although the
additional sarge data is not included in
debram-0.4.1, 2300 of sarge's additional 5700
are preliminarily ramified, too.  Debram's users
are meant to be supported until the debtags are
fully ready.

(In the event that questions for me in this
matter arise on or off this list, please permit
me ten days to reply.  I will be mostly out of
email contact during the coming week.)