-static packages

[Michael Schwendt]

On Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:39:09 -0400, Tom wrote:

> "Bryn M. Reeves" writes:
> > On 09/15/2010 05:06 PM, Robert Spanton wrote:
> >> So, would be acceptable to register requests for -static package
> >> variants as tickets on bugzilla?  Or is there a better way to try to
> >> encourage people to generate these packages?
> 
> > You might find the Fedora packaging guidelines for packaging static
> > libraries helps explain the rationale a bit more:
> 
> The important point here is that there is a distro policy against static
> libraries (with only very narrow exceptions).

It is against linking statically, not against building/packaging libs:

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Packaging:Guidelines#Packaging_Static_Libraries

| In general, packagers are strongly encouraged not to ship static libs
| unless a compelling reason exists. 

In package reviews, package submitters typically don't give any
"compelling reason" for shipping the static libs. That's why many
-static packages are missing.

> Trying to get individual package maintainers to go against the policy
> isn't a helpful way to proceed.

If shared libs are available and static linking requires FESCo approval in
that case, why ship the static libs? That's the question to begin with.
If it's asked regularly, the Fedora Packaging Committee might see a need
to answer it and add a comment to the guidelines.