Mail Archives: cygwin/2005/12/08/09:56:36
James R. Phillips wrote:
> I am starting a new thread on this issue.
>
> Quoting from
> http://cygwin.com/ml/cygwin/2005-12/msg00319.html :
>
>
>>I often use octave and do no plotting at all. Octave starts and runs
>>fine if gnuplot isn't installed. (It complains about not being able
>>to find gnuplot when the plot command is used.) Should there really
>>be a dependency if only a subset of features requires a package?
>
>
>>I'd prefer to see gnuplot removed from the octave dependency list.
>>Of course then you'd have to deal with all the posts saying that
>>the plot command in octave is broken. So I don't know what the best
>>approach would be. How do others feel?
>
>
>>Tony Richardson
>
>
> As the OP notes, having a gnuplot dependency pulls in X when installing octave,
> which is not what some users need or want. And octave will load and run just
> fine without gnuplot - it just won't plot. However, most users want to plot,
> and will need gnuplot.
>
> So, my current view is that a gnuplot dependency is optimal for most users, and
> that those who don't want it can work around the issue by using known
> solutions, such as hacking the /etc/setup/installed.db file to fool setup into
> thinking gnuplot is installed.
>
> On the other side is how Debian does it: gnuplot is "suggested" for octave, not
> "required". Also, Debian has a gnuplot-nox package, which I suppose omits the
> gnuplot X11 drivers, and actually allows installing gnuplot without requiring
> X.
>
> I think that gnuplot-nox is kind of a neat solution, but even if such a package
> were available in cygwin, we don't have a way to express OR dependencies. So
> it would be difficult to use this approach. Also we don't have a way to
> express "suggested" rather than required.
>
> On balance, I favor retaining the current dependency on gnuplot. I would ask
> that those with alternative views post to this thread.
>
> Thanks,
>
> jrp
>
How about having a gnuplot-nox package like debian, which satisfies the
dependancy, and having gnuplot-x-drivers available separately?
It could be referenced in the README easily enough, and wouldn't be too
hard to find..
What do people think of that?
On a sidenote - jrp - want to set the reply-to header to the cygwin
list? makes it easier for the rest of us to respond on-list :P
Chris
--
Spinning complacently in the darkness, covered and blinded by a blanket
of little lives, false security has lulled the madness of this world
into a slumber. Wake up! An eye is upon you, staring straight down and
keenly through, seeing all that you are and everything that you will
never be. Yes, an eye is upon you, an eye ready to blink. So face
forward, with arms wide open and mind reeling. Your future has
arrived... Are you ready to go?
--
Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple
Problem reports: http://cygwin.com/problems.html
Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html
FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/
- Raw text -