use Perl

• You can't ask the users anything... (Score:1)

  by Alias (5735)

  > What happens is when there's a dependency problem, say a bug fix in
  > Test::More reveals test failures in DBI (which it does), the author of
  > the dependent module (Andreas) can report a CPAN Version Advisory that
  > DBI 1.59 and Test::More >= 0.71 are incompatible. When a user goes to
  > install DBI the CPAN shell queries the service for any advisories. It
  > uses that information to decide what to do. In this case it might say
  > "DBI 1.59 is incompatible with your installed version of Tes
  • Re: (Score:2)

    by schwern (1528)

    It's going to be extremely difficult for users in this situation. If we apply the "7 layers of recursion" principle, how are they going to have any idea what to do in this situation?

    It provides the user with *some* information and a way out, as opposed to nothing. Part of the point is just to make this sort of ad-hoc information that we normally communicate via word-of-mouth available to the world in a human and machine readable format.
    
    But I see your point. Yes, the downgrading may be problematic, but i
    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Alias (5735)

      > It requires the author's intervention. Often the very problem is that an
      > author is not being responsive. It does not address the bottleneck issue.
      > You could just have the CPAN cabal unilaterally decide to yank a module from
      > the index, but this is not a happy making thing, CPAN has always been very
      > hands off, and it just moves the bottleneck to the CPAN cabal. The advisories
      > allow either end of the relationship to report the problem.
      
      As I understand it, in your description it's the CP
      • Re:You can't ask the users anything... (Score:2)

        by schwern (1528) on 2007.09.17 19:38 (#57878) Homepage Journal

        My mistake, that should have said "Tim". Fixed that.
        
        To clarify, the people issuing the advisories are the authors of the modules effected. The author on either side of the relationship can issue the advisory, so in my Test::More / DBI example it's either me or Tim Bunce.
        
        It's also possible that a 2nd or 3rd order dependent could issue an advisory. So, say, Matt Trout could issue the Test::More / DBI advisory because DBIx::Class needs DBI and his users are effected by the breakage.
        
        There would also be trusted 3rd parties who can issue advisories, some hand waving there about exactly how that's determined. Advisories could also be submitted for consideration which is how Joe User would report a problem, have it checked by a trusted human and promoted to an advisory.
        

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        Parent

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by Alias (5735)

          Check by, say, the CPAN cabal? :)
          • Re: (Score:2)

            by schwern (1528)

            No, the CPAN Advisory cabal. :P