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---
GLEP: 34
Title: Per-Category metadata.xml Files
Author: Ciaran McCreesh <ciaranm@gentoo.org>
Type: Standards Track
Status: Replaced
Version: 1
Created: 2005-03-11
Last-Modified: 2017-10-13
Post-History: 2005-03-11, 2005-03-13, 2005-05-02
Content-Type: text/x-rst
Replaced-By: 68
---
Abstract
========
A ``metadata.xml`` file [1]_ is currently used to provide extra metadata
(long descriptions, herd and maintainer information) about a package. It
is proposed that these files also be used to describe the purpose of a
category.
Motivation
==========
Category names are short and not entirely clear. Adding arbitrary length
long descriptions to categories would provide several advantages:
* It would clarify the meaning of categories for users, who may not be
aware of some of the abbreviations or acronyms we use.
* With the use of XML ``lang=""`` attributes, it would allow for
additional non-English descriptions (simply using longer category names
would not allow this).
* It would help developers better select a relevant category for their
package, rather than dumping everything into ``sys-apps`` and
``app-misc`` as is done currently.
* It would help illustrate which categories are too broad or badly defined
in scope, making any future category splits easier.
Specification
=============
It is proposed that the existing ``metadata.xml`` format [1]_ be used.
Even though XML sucks, there is already a framework in place for these
files. The filename will be ``blah-misc/metadata.xml``. The character set
used shall be UTF-8 for consistency with GLEP 31 [2]_.
A new top level ``<catmetadata>`` element shall be added to the DTD. This
is necessary because the existing ``<pkgmetadata>`` element is not
appropriately named, and doing a global rename would be impractical. Using
a different element would also permit additional category-specific data to
be added at a later date.
The existing ``<longdescription>`` elements shall be used for
descriptions. The ``lang`` attribute shall be used to indicate the human
language of the description -- all categories must have at least an
English (``en``) description.
The ``<herd>`` and ``<maintainer>`` elements are not generally relevant at
the category level. They may be specified as a fall-back "assume that
everything in this category is maintained by these people", but this must
not be used as a replacement for proper per-package metadata.
Examples
--------
The ``app-vim`` category could use a ``metadata.xml`` file like the
following: ::
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE catmetadata SYSTEM "http://www.gentoo.org/dtd/metadata.dtd">
<catmetadata>
<longdescription lang="en">
The app-vim category contains plugins and syntax file
packages for the Vim text editor.
</longdescription>
<longdescription lang="de">
Die Kategorie app-vim enthält Plugins und Syntax-Pakete
für den Vim Texteditor.
</longdescription>
</catmetadata>
Implementation Requirements
---------------------------
The DTD file would need to be updated to include the ``<catmetadata>``
element.
A metadata file would have to be added to every category in the tree. This
could be done over a period of time.
``repoman`` would need a few small changes to be able to handle
per-category metadata files.
The "packages.gentoo.org metadata" bug [3]_ would need to be
updated to ask for category descriptions as well.
The metadata documentation [1]_ would require some additions.
Backwards Compatibility
=======================
The metadata DTD will remain backwards compatible.
The category metadata files will need to be considered "optional until
implemented" rather than immediately becoming mandatory.
References
==========
.. [1] Gentoo Metadata,
(https://devmanual.gentoo.org/ebuild-writing/misc-files/metadata/#category-metadata)
.. [2] GLEP 31: Character Sets for Portage Tree Items
(https://www.gentoo.org/glep/glep-0031.html)
.. [3] Gentoo bug 66917
(http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=66917)
Copyright
=========
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
.. vim: set tw=74 fileencoding=utf-8 :
|
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