Booch Components and AdaCL in Debian (was Re: [Announcement] New Project: ASIS for GNAT)

[Ludovic Brenta <ludovic.brenta@insalien.org>]

Martin Krischik <krischik@users.sourceforge.net> writes:

> Well, AdaCL contains an extension to the booch components. The
> extension provides comonents for indefinite elements. You know, for
> storing String or 'Class.
> 
> AdaCL does not replace the booch components. You will need the booch
> components to use AdaCL.

OK, see Debian bug #234551.

> I would, of course, prefer to move the extension into the booch
> components themself, but Simon does not use a public cvs server :-(
> so it would be rather tricky.

Is it not possible for you to send him the patches so he can apply
them?  Alternately, would Simon consider hosting the Booch Components
on SourceForge, Berlios, Alioth or some such?  Or even as a directory
inside the AdaCL?  Merging the two projects would simplify packaging
for distributions like Debian.

I have looked at the AdaCL project on SourceForge, and I have to say I
am quite impressed with the activity that takes place there.  However,
the pace of new releases is also a concern to me; I already maintain
17 source packages and it would be difficult for me to package a new
version of AdaCL every couple of weeks.  I just won't have enough
time.  In addition, if the binary interface to the library changes too
often, people will be reluctant to use the library in their programs.
The binary interface normally changes at every major release; this is
reflected in the soname of the shared library.  For the current
version of AdaCL, we would have in /usr/lib:

libadacl.so.4.0.2                    the actual shared library
libadacl.so.4 -> libadacl.so.4.0.2   the link used at runtime: soname
libadacl.so -> libadacl.so.4.0.2     the link used at link time

I can see two solutions to this problem of too frequent releases:

- let somebody else maintain AdaCL in Debian; this includes not only
  packaging each new version, but also tracking bugs, being the
  front-line of support for Debian users, and interacting with the
  upstream authors on SourceForge.  I could provide assistance to get
  going.  In fact, generally speaking, I would really like it if
  someone else stepped up to package more Ada software in Debian.

- slow down the pace of new releases to, say, one every 2 months.
  This implies no bug-fix releases (unless absolutely required, of
  course).  This implies an automated test suite to ensure top quality
  of each release (hint: AUnit is already in Debian).

I don't think it is desirable to skip some versions of AdaCL in
Debian, because newer versions seem to provide valuable bug fixes.

What do you think?

-- 
Ludovic Brenta.