Bug 202339

Summary:	sys-apps/util-linux - misleading USE flag crypt
Product:	Gentoo Linux	Reporter:	Marti Raudsepp <marti>
Component:	New packages	Assignee:	Gentoo's Team for Core System packages <base-system>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	trivial
Priority:	High
Version:	2007.0
Hardware:	All
OS:	Linux
Whiteboard:
Package list:		Runtime testing required:	---

Description Marti Raudsepp 2007-12-14 22:47:30 UTC

The description for the USE flag "crypt" states "Add support for encryption -- using mcrypt or gpg where applicable", however, many instances of the crypt USE flag do not relate to gpg or mcrypt. However, this is not the main concern.

In particular, the crypt use flag for util-linux actually applies a third-party patch for loop-AES -- while loop-AES is a rarely used out-of-tree kernel module, not endorsed by the Linux kernel developers, Gentoo, nor any other major distributions.

I would expect such generic USE flags like "crypt" to only add visible dependencies, or apply patches which have a wide support and user base -- but certainly not apply obscure patches to core packages and pass without user's notice.

This patch is only really necessary when the user explicitly knows that he's using loop-AES; I'd suggest renaming the flag "loopaes" or whatnot.

Comment 1 SpanKY gentoo-dev

2007-12-14 23:25:30 UTC

it's more historical.  when the kernel/util-linux lacked any encryption support, USE=crypt pulled into cryptographically features.  things have since changed though, so updating the USE flag makes sense.

Comment 2 SpanKY gentoo-dev

2008-02-23 04:29:38 UTC

latest versions have been converted to USE=loop-aes