MariaDB: Packagers needed

[Adam Williamson]

On Sun, 2012-10-28 at 23:31 +0100, Kevin Kofler wrote:
> Sven Lankes wrote:
> > mariadb will need to conflict with the default mysql packages
> > which is usually not allowed in fedora. So this is going to
> > be interesting.
> 
> Uh, conflicting with MySQL is really a no go (just look at how many things 
> require mysql-libs, and even mysql-server is required for Akonadi, and 
> mysql-embedded or Amarok), why isn't the fork renaming its stuff? If the 
> idea is to be a 100% compatible drop-in replacement, then Fedora needs to 
> make a choice whether to ship Oracle's MySQL or MariaDB and then stick to 
> it.

Well, we could also take the approach we take with MTAs; have a set of
generic virtual Provides for MySQL-alikes and have all the MySQL-alikes
we package Provide these, as well as Providing their own specific name,
and conflict with each other. Just like postfix, qmail and sendmail all
Provide: smtpd and conflict with each other. It would be some packaging
effort, but it would resolve the issue cleanly. This would fly so long
as it's expected that there will be a long-term future for the
'MySQL-alike' world in which we have multiple competing implementations
that are mutually compatible for many client apps. I'm not involved
enough in the area to know if that's true.
-- 
Adam Williamson
Fedora QA Community Monkey
IRC: adamw | Twitter: AdamW_Fedora | identi.ca: adamwfedora
http://www.happyassassin.net