Re: [Caml-list] CDK with Ocaml 3.06 (fwd)

[Sven LUTHER <luther@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr>]

On Mon, Oct 14, 2002 at 10:38:36PM +0200, Pierre Weis wrote:
> [...]
> > > 2) if we really need such a feature (for example just to have
> > >    transparent access to packages between different linux distributions
> > >    or between linux and windows and mac and ... worlds) who is
> > >    responsible to keep an archive of available package gettable via
> > >    ocamlfind or whatevere else?
> > >    CPAN, APT, and other approaches work because someon set up an
> > >    official or de-facto-official archive (Well, APT also support other
> > >    repositories, but official one are the most used and trusted ...).
> > 
> > If this happens, maybe we can prevail on inria and the ocaml team to
> > make disk space available to us ?
> 
> Yes, indeed. There is no problem of disk space here. The problem is to
> grant access in a secure and reliable way.

Well, debian uses a system with upload queues, and signed package witha
strong web of trust between developpers who are allowed to upload
packages. Sure we also have ssh access on most debian boxes, but this is
not necessary for uploading.

I am sure a scheme could be found for this kindof distribution, with an
upload queue, where you could anonymously upload packages, which get
scanned for secure signatures and uploaded onto the server, or something
such. Maybe you could go without signatures even, since after all, there
is nothing critical and absolutely needing root access in the ocaml
packages.

> > > 3) ocaml packages are usually distributed as source packages and we have
> > >    not a standardized way to build and install them, the success of
> > >    CPAN, APT, are due to the facts that _or_ the distribution is in
> > >    binary form with standardadized file system sructure _or_ the
> > >    distribution is in source form with standardized compilation and
> > >    installation procedure
> > 
> > Yes, this is the problematic part.
> 
> I think we can set up a standardized compilation and installation
> procedure (meaning a standard Makefile for libraries, based on the
> configuration set up by the original Ocaml installation). We can start
> with the Caml team maintained software (the ``bazaar'') and encourage
> people to do the same for their own software by storing (and
> distributing) it on our server. This could be a lot of book-keeping
> but we could probably manage it...

Well, the problem is more in the dependency handling, and could be worse
if you maintain binary distribution, like you do for windows. But
anyway, i don't believe you could really afford to do binary
distribution for something else than windows or maybe macOSX.

It is very difficult to do this nicely without an integrated
distribution. Mmm, maybe it can be done, but would need lot of work, and
anyway, inria don't has the vast multi arch build farm that debian has,
so i don't know if it would be meaningfull.

Friendly,

Sven Luther
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