https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/Langpacks-core
== Summary == Add `langpacks-core-*` subpackages to `langpacks` for easier installation of minimal core i18n support for a language (locale, default font, and any default input-method if needed).
== Owner == * Name: [[User:Petersen|Jens Petersen]] * Email: petersen@redhat.com * Name: [[User:pnemade|Parag Nemade]] * Email: pnemade@redhat.com * Name: [[User:mfabian|Mike Fabian]] * Email: mfabian@redhat.com
== Detailed Description == In Fedora 30 we replaced the remaining Yum language-support groups in Comps by extending the `langpacks` meta packages to handle the installation of fonts (and input-methods) required for a language, in addition to locale and translation package weak dependencies. However this all or nothing approach can be too heavy for some use cases, since the old language-support groups did not pull in translation langpacks.
With this Change we want to refine the approach to allow finer-grained installation of language support. So users who only want basic support installed for a language (without translation langpacks and additional fonts for example) can install `langpacks-core-XY` to get just the default font, locale(s) and a weak dependency for any default input method.
Note: in this proposal `XY` stands just for the ISO language code (eg `es` for Spanish).
Users who want general default Fedora international support should continue to install `@fonts`, `@input-methods`, and `glibc-all-langpacks` (as they are already in Fedora Workstation, etc).
Later we may consider whether to separate the input methods into separate meta langpacks subpackages.
== Benefit to Fedora == This allows more flexibility for users who want to do custom installations/Spins, or starting from minimal images/installs. They will be able to add basic i18n support for one or more specific language in a predictable standard way without pulling in additional langpacks for translations and extra fonts which may not be required for each added languages.
Users wanting full support for a language can continue to install the `langpacks-XY` package for their language.
== Scope == * Proposal owners: ** Add `langpacks-core-*` subpackages to langpacks for core i18n functionality: *** default font *** glibc locale *** weak dependency on ibus IME if needed ** Other langpacks weak deps and additional fonts will remain in `langpacks-XY`. ** `langpacks-XY` will require `langpacks-core-XY`. ** glibc locales subpackages weak dependencies will be updated to depend on `langpacks-core-XY`
* Other developers: No other changes should be needed - current package translation langpacks will continue to depend on `langpacks-xx`. ** Policies and guidelines: No major changes here * Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
== Upgrade/compatibility impact == <!-- What happens to systems that have had a previous versions of Fedora installed and are updated to the version containing this change? Will anything require manual configuration or data migration? Will any existing functionality be no longer supported? -->
No impact - the design is fully backwards compatible: `langpacks-XY` will pull in the new `langpacks-core-XY`.
== How To Test == * dnf list langpacks-* * dnf install langpacks-core-XY * dnf install langpacks-XY
== User Experience == Fedora users will have more flexibility with installation of i18n support packages and langpacks.
== Dependencies == glibc.spec needs to be updated with `s/langpacks/langpacks-core/` once `langpacks` has implemented `langpacks-core`.
No other packages should be directly affected by the current proposal.
== Contingency Plan == * Contingency mechanism: Proposal owners will revert to F30 `langpacks` and glibc * Contingency deadline: Beta freeze * Blocks release? No * Blocks product? N/A
== Documentation == No additional documentation at this stage.
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Ben Cotton