[Nix-dev] Re: Why stdenv-updates branch?

[Lluís Batlle]

I like the stdenv-updates branch, which holds testing of changes in
the stdenv expression, which most nixpkgs derivations depend of.

I use to get trunk changes mostly when I want to commit an update
there, and I don't do it that often. I also use NixOS, so
nixos-rebuild with a stdenv change even every two weeks would be a bit
annoying for me. Even using hydra's binaries, it isn't that quick
getting the bunch of kde42 packages.

I liked how the last stdenv-updates merge worked, where I noticed a
new gcc and glibc. I don't know if the stdenv-updates testers, those
who use the branch developing it, specially desire it for the nixos
expression of their usual system, which may include not only kde42,
but also much more.

Regards,
Lluís.

2009/7/19 Peter Simons <simons at cryp.to>:
> Hi,
>
> I thought about this subject a little more:
>
>> Personally, I'm not particularly fond of stdenv-updates.
>
> I've come to realize that I don't mind the stdenv-updates branch per se.
> The idea that changes to stdenv are staged elsewhere and tested before
> they're being committed to trunk is fine. Yet, in the past stdenv-updates
> had a tendency to degenerate, because very few people actually use it. The
> result is that trunk and stdenv-updates diverge; a situation that is quite
> unpleasant and causes a lot of problems in its own right, because we
> effectively end up having two trunks.
>
> My suggestion would be to ensure that stdenv-updates is merged back into
> trunk quickly, say every 2 weeks or so. Holding updates back much longer
> feels counterproductive.
>
> We all have chosen a package manager, Nix, that has the ability to rebuild
> the entire system whenever a core package changes. I have chosen Nix
> because I *want* that. So if it happens every now and then that Nix *does*
> want to rebuild the entire system, then that's fine with me.
>
> Take care,
> Peter
>
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