Re: should FreeBSD-dhclient depend on FreeBSD-resolvconf?

> On Oct 15, 2025, at 8:53 AM, Lexi Winter <ivy@freebsd.org> wrote:
> 
> Matteo Riondato wrote in <89861E7A-64C7-47CB-89F6-A93AB14813FF@FreeBSD.org>:
>>> On Oct 15, 2025, at 8:28 AM, Lexi Winter <ivy@freebsd.org> wrote:
> 
>>> "minimal-jail" is "minimal" without software that doesn't work in jails.
>>> dhclient obviously works in jails, but i ommitted it since i thought it
>>> was extremely uncommon to use dhclient in a jail.  but if this is more
>>> common than i thought, we can add it.
>> 
>> It seems you had a definition ("'minimal-jail’ is all minus {what
>> doesn’t work in a jail}” AND “is the minimal supported") but ignored
>> it for dhclient.  That makes the definition not valid anymore.
> 
> yes, your logic is very clever, but i am more interested in actionable
> changes we can make to improve the system for users.

Having clear documentation of what these meta-packages should/must/are expected include is an actionable change that improves the system for users: it clarifies to the users what to expect when they install the meta-packages, and clarifies to developers when to add/remove packages to/from the meta-packages.

>> It also seem that (before the change), dhclient in jails would not
>> have been supported (as ‘“minimal’ is the *minimal supported*
>> configuration”, quote yours, emphasis mine), which would have been
>> bizarre.
> 
> huh?  i never said dhclient in a jail is not supported.
> 
> "minimal supported configuration" means that for a basic installation of
> FreeBSD in a multi-user configuration, these are the packages you need
> to install.  
> it doesn't mean you can't install any other packages.  that
> would obviously be absurd.

Gotcha, I misunderstood that.

But then, what does “minimal supported” mean, i.e., what role does “supported” play? 
If one removes a package (e.g., dhclient), is this configuration not supported?

You are using terms that seem not well defined: what’s a *basic* (earlier you used the term “standard”…are these equivalent terms?) installation of FreeBSD in a multi-user configuration? Is there a list of packages that, when installed, create a basic (or a standard) installation? How did we arrive to this list? Is it self-defined. e.g., “the packages in minimal define what a basic/standard FreeBSD installation in a multi-user configuration is”?

I fear some of the meta-packages may become either a kitchen sink or “too minimal”, if we don’t define exactly what each should accomplish.

Thanks,
Matteo