[debpool] Does it make sense to convert to debpool now?

[Marc Haber]

Hi,

It is a pleasure to see debpool moving again. This will probably help
me ditching my own pool management tools which I have actually ITPed a
long time ago (#204969). My own pool management tools (package pool
helper, pph) are a lot simpler than dak and probably simpler as
debpool as well.

I'd like to describe what my tools do to get a comparision to debpool.

my directory layout is this:

./conf/ (contains apt and pph configuration)
./dists/zg/sarge/ (Packages, Release and Sources files)
./dists/zg/testsarge/ (Packages, Release and Sources files)
./dists/zg/sid/ (Packages, Release and Sources files)
./indices/ (internal package list and override files)
./pool/main/$PACKAGE/ (source and binary packages, i386 only)
./pool/main/$PACAKGE/00distlist (control file)

This directory tree is exported verbatim to the web via a normal web
server, of course. To my understanding, apt only needs ./dists and
./pool, the rest is internal cruft.

I currently have three "partial distributions", sarge, testsarge and
sid (I obviously have not made the etch transition).

When a package is meant to go into a distribution, I rync it into the
appropriate directory and modify 00distlist to show which package
version is meant to go in which distribution:

$ cat exim4/00distributions
=> sarge
exim4-base_4.63-11~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-config_4.63-11~zg1_all.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy-dbg_4.63-11~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy_4.63-11~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light-dbg_4.63-11~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light_4.63-11~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-dbg_4.63-11~zg1_i386.deb
exim4_4.63-11.dsc
exim4_4.63-11~zg1.dsc
exim4_4.63-11~zg1_all.deb
eximon4_4.63-11~zg1_i386.deb

=> sid
exim4-base_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-config_4.66-3.0_all.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy-dbg_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light-dbg_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-dbg_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-dev_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4_4.66-3.0.dsc
exim4_4.66-3.0_all.deb
eximon4_4.66-3.0_i386.deb

=> testsarge
exim4-base_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-config_4.66-3.0~zg1_all.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy-dbg_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light-dbg_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-dbg_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-dev_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4_4.66-3.0~zg1.dsc
exim4_4.66-3.0~zg1_all.deb
eximon4_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb

When exim4 4.66-3.0~zg1 has shown its stability on the boxes running
testsarge, the file gets changed to

$ cat exim4/00distributions
=> sid
exim4-base_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-config_4.66-3.0_all.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy-dbg_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light-dbg_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-dbg_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4-dev_4.66-3.0_i386.deb
exim4_4.66-3.0.dsc
exim4_4.66-3.0_all.deb
eximon4_4.66-3.0_i386.deb

=> sarge
exim4-base_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-config_4.66-3.0~zg1_all.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy-dbg_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-heavy_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light-dbg_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-daemon-light_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-dbg_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4-dev_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb
exim4_4.66-3.0~zg1.dsc
exim4_4.66-3.0~zg1_all.deb
eximon4_4.66-3.0~zg1_i386.deb

and the machines running "plain sarge" update as well. This goes
without need to recompile and without need to reupload, it is just a
change in the 00distlist file.

For me, it is vital to have the distribution list sitting in the same
directory as the package files.

How would I handle an arrangement like this with debpool? Is it
possible? If yes, would it be wise to use the version currently in
experimental, or do I have to expect major changes in configuration
when your first package is being uploaded?

Any hints will be appreciated.

Greetings
Marc

-- 
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Marc Haber         | "I don't trust Computers. They | Mailadresse im Header
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