F22 Self Contained Change: Disabled Repositories Support

[Pete Travis]

On Mar 17, 2015 5:18 AM, "Jan Zelený" <jzeleny at redhat.com> wrote:
>
> On 16. 3. 2015 at 15:52:10, Jaroslav Reznik wrote:
> > = Proposed Self Contained Change: Disabled Repositories Support =
> > https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/DisabledRepoSupport
> >
> > Change owner(s): Richard Hughes <rhughes at redhat dot com>
> >
> > The Software tool and PackageKit now support disabled repositories to
help
> > users locate software in additional repositories which are not meant to
be
> > enabled by default.
> >
> > * This Change is announced after the Change Submission Deadline as an
> > exception to the process. May not be approved for proposed Fedora
release. *
> >
> > == Detailed Description ==
> > This feature aims to reduce the technical hurdles for users and
developers
> > to locate software packaged for a distribution, but which needs to be
> > clearly identified as not officially included (or possibly sanctioned)
by
> > that distribution.
> >
> > When Software (via PackageKit) queries a repo definition that contains
the
> > line enabled_metadata=1, even if the repo is disabled, it will download
> > repodata. This feature allows a user to locate software in response to a
> > search. If the user wants to install the software, she receives a dialog
> > with information that the repo must be enabled to satisfy the request,
and
> > if relevant, information about the nature of the software (for
instance, if
> > it is non- libre).
> >
> > N.B. This feature does not currently operate in Fedora, since no such
repo
> > definitions are currently shipped. However, the feature could be used by
> > remixers, and in the future in Fedora in the event of a policy change.
> >
> > == Scope ==
> > * Proposal owners: Include enhancements in gnome-software/PackageKit
(done)
> > * Other developers: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
> > * Release engineering: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
> > ** Note: For this feature to be used in Fedora requires an additional *-
> > release-extra package to ship disabled repo definition
> > * Policies and guidelines: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
> > ** Note: For this feature to be used in Fedora requires clearer approval
> > from FESCo and the Council
>
> I wonder, are there any implications for dnf in terms of being consistent
with
> the new behavior of Gnome Software? I realize that people using dnf have
more
> options than people using Gnome Software (--enablerepo for instance) but
this
> sounds like the beginning of the end of disabled repositories.
>
> Personally, I don't like the semantics of these semi-disabled repos. It
beats
> the purpose of disabling the repos in the first place, doesn't it? I mean
I
> don't get why user would specify enabled_metadata=1 when he can achieve
almost
> the same result with disabled=0 (the only difference I can see is one
> additional popup dialog). Or is there something I'm missing?
>
> Thanks
> Jan
> --

As I understand it, the intent is to provide the user with the experience
of third party software being included in Fedora, while still complying
with the third party repository policy and communicating to the user that
it comes from somewhere else.

As I understand it, the council stance is that each repo must be a
self-contained piece of software, and each individual repo must have
explicit council approval to be included,  with a mandate for furthering
Fedora's mission and an expectation of permissive licensing.  In that
context, I guess I'm ok with the compromise.

jreznik, what about cycling these approvals through the Change process, but
instead of going to Fesco, the tickets go to the council?  That would allow
a sufficient amount of community scrutiny and signal, IMO.  The Change
template would only need to be modified slightly, probably not more than
current interpretations do.

--Pete
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