Mail selection options in sysinstall(8).

[John Baldwin]

On 19-Sep-2003 Chris Pressey wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 18:53:49 +0100
> Ceri Davies <setantae at submonkey.net> wrote:
> 
>> On Fri, Sep 19, 2003 at 10:51:44AM -0700, Chris Pressey wrote:
>> > On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 07:48:02 -0700
>> > Michael Sierchio <kudzu at tenebras.com> wrote:
>> > 
>> > > Simon L. Nielsen wrote:
>> > > 
>> > > > As mentioned by Tom's original mail that isn't possible due to
>> > > > the qmail license.  You can go bug djb about it :-) (though I
>> > > > doubt it will change anything).
>> > > > 
>> > > > Note, the license is the reason why qmail isn't included, it's
>> > > > not a crusade against qmail - I also use qmail myself some
>> > > > places.
>> > > 
>> > > Note:  in my view the problem is that the current port maintainer
>> > > has decided to produce an install that is not conformant with
>> > > Dan's license granting an exception to the requirement for his
>> > > approval.  It is entirely possible to make a binary package that
>> > > either:  meets with his approval, or;  fulfills the requirements
>> > > for the exemption.
>> > 
>> > I quite agree.  Quoting http://cr.yp.to/qmail/dist.html :
>> > 
>> > "You are permitted to distribute a precompiled var-qmail package if
>> > (1) installing the package produces exactly the same /var/qmail
>> > hierarchy as a user would obtain by downloading, compiling, and
>> > installing qmail-1.03.tar.gz, fastforward-0.51.tar.gz, and
>> > dot-forward-0.71.tar.gz;(2) the package behaves correctly, i.e., the
>> > same way as normal qmail+fastforward+dot-forward installations on
>> > all other systems; and(3) the package's creator warrants that he has
>> > made a good-faith attempt to ensure that the package behaves
>> > correctly."
>> > 
>> > Frankly I'd be surprised if a package built straight from the qmail
>> > port didn't meet these requirements.
>> 
>> If I installed a package that put itself in /var simply because the
>> guy who wrote it says that's where it should be (on my system!), then
>> I wouldn't be best pleased.  Enough said.
> 
> But that's not an argument for denying it to other users, who quite
> possibly agree that it should go into /var, or who simply don't care
> overmuch where it goes.

Most FreeBSD packages do allow you to use an arbitray prefix.  See
pkg_add(8) for more info.  The debate seems to be that djb@ doesn't
want any precompiled packages to have that flexibility for whatever
reason.  If djb@ doesn't want qmail to be widely deployed then thats
his problem I guess. :)

-- 

John Baldwin <jhb at FreeBSD.org>  <><  http://www.FreeBSD.org/~jhb/
"Power Users Use the Power to Serve!"  -  http://www.FreeBSD.org/