Website page to track packaging progress

Website page to track packaging progress

[Alexandru-Sergiu Marton]

Hi,

We are all aware that there are a number of common programs that people 
may want to use and are not available on Guix. Currently, if someone 
wants to know the packaging state of such a program, they need to come 
to the mailing lists and search or ask. This has the potential to 
progress towards the same question asked multiple times or the people 
may begin to feel discouraged to use Guix if they see the last effort to 
package something they need was from 2018.

I propose we put up a new page on the GNU Guix website that tracks the 
progress of at least some of the commonly desired packages that either 
do not exist at all on Guix or are outdated. A FAQ for packages, like 
Frequently Requested Packages (FRP) or something.

Examples include: GNOME, KDE, .NET Core, Rust, Python.

The page should contain details about what is keeping us from easily 
integrating each package into Guix.

If someone is known to work on any of the packages listed on that page, 
maybe list them as a contact (if they agree) for other people that may 
want to help?

If something similar exists already, please point me to it – there's a 
high chance I just can't find it.

Take care of yourselves. Cheers,
-- 
Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407@member.fsf.org>
https://brown.121407.xyz
[8571 7664 DFDC 6B6A 3ED2 DA68 2348 7CC8 2397 2C1F]

Re: Website page to track packaging progress

[pinoaffe]

Hi,

so you want an extended version of 
https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Guix/Wishlist, or am I 
misunderstanding?

Re: Website page to track packaging progress

[Alexandru-Sergiu Marton]

> 
> so you want an extended version of
> https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Guix/Wishlist, or am I
> misunderstanding?
> 
> 



I didn't know that existed, thanks for bringing it into my attention.

I would prefer, indeed, a version with more details such as the progress
and who is working on it. Also, it would be nice to have this in a more
visible place. Maybe on the Contribute page, in the Packages section or
on the Packages page itself?

-- 
Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407@member.fsf.org>
https://brown.121407.xyz
[8571 7664 DFDC 6B6A 3ED2 DA68 2348 7CC8 2397 2C1F]

Re: Website page to track packaging progress

[Vincent Legoll]

Hello

On Sun, Mar 15, 2020 at 12:31 PM Alexandru-Sergiu Marton
<brown121407@posteo.ro> wrote:
> > so you want an extended version of
> > https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Guix/Wishlist, or am I
> > misunderstanding?
> I didn't know that existed, thanks for bringing it into my
> attention.

I did not know it either, and removed bonnie++ (which was listed under
X11) since it is now packaged:

https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/guix.git/commit/?id=176dd26b38410b371a6283813698d6d7a419ada3

-- 
Vincent Legoll

Re: Website page to track packaging progress

[sirgazil]

Hi,

 ---- On Sun, 15 Mar 2020 06:31:29 -0500 Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407@posteo.ro> wrote ----
 > 
 > > 
 > > so you want an extended version of
 > > https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Guix/Wishlist, or am I
 > > misunderstanding?

I recently used that page to include a package, but, personally, I didn't like that I had to create an account (I don't have other uses for that account).


 > I didn't know that existed, thanks for bringing it into my attention.
 > 
 > I would prefer, indeed, a version with more details such as the progress
 > and who is working on it. Also, it would be nice to have this in a more
 > visible place. Maybe on the Contribute page, in the Packages section or
 > on the Packages page itself?

I think the issue tracker has the information you are looking for, and it should be advertised as the tool for package requests. Some advantages:

* People don't have to create an account to send package requests.
* It has search functionality.
* You can see who's working on a package and find patches with work in progress.

If the issue tracker were used for package requests, I guess these requests could be tagged (like easy issues http://issues.guix.gnu.org/easy). That way you could also point people to the current list of requested packages before they send a new request.

As Alexandru-Sergiu, suggests, relevant pages in the website could be updated to make this information more visible.

I could send a patch for this.

Re: Website page to track packaging progress

[Ludovic Courtès]

Hi Alexandru-Sergiu,

Alexandru-Sergiu Marton <brown121407@posteo.ro> skribis:

> I propose we put up a new page on the GNU Guix website that tracks the
> progress of at least some of the commonly desired packages that either
> do not exist at all on Guix or are outdated. A FAQ for packages, like
> Frequently Requested Packages (FRP) or something.
>
> Examples include: GNOME, KDE, .NET Core, Rust, Python.
>
> The page should contain details about what is keeping us from easily
> integrating each package into Guix.
>
> If someone is known to work on any of the packages listed on that
> page, maybe list them as a contact (if they agree) for other people
> that may want to help?

It’s quite rare for in-progress packaging work to be shared.  Most
packages are small and easily done and so it makes little sense to share
an in-progress version.

For big packages or collections, like KDE, people tend to send progress
reports or patch series because that requires more coordination and help
on difficult issues.  These can be seen at <https://issues.guix.gnu.org>.

I think it’s hard to gather information more precise than that because
each one of us volunteers to do work when the need arises and when time
permits.

Ludo’.