Bug 63687

Summary:	Bad X-window Ebuild
Product:	Gentoo Linux	Reporter:	Kaiting Chen <Phoenixfire159>
Component:	New packages	Assignee:	Gentoo Linux bug wranglers <bug-wranglers>
Status:	RESOLVED WONTFIX
Severity:	enhancement	CC:	genstef
Priority:	High
Version:	unspecified
Hardware:	All
OS:	Linux
Whiteboard:
Package list:		Runtime testing required:	---

Description Kaiting Chen 2004-09-11 09:14:15 UTC

In Debian, I could install the x-window-system-core package, which would install an x server, and some programs that would make it work, like startx, etc.

There is no equivalent in Gentoo, as ebuilds like xorg-x11 install things like twm, and xterm, along with it. An ebuild like xorg-x11-core should be created that only includes the very very basic things needed to have an x server up, because most people will install their own window managers and xterm emulators anyways.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Install xorg-x11
Actual Results:  
Installs a much bloated package

Expected Results:  
Install only the base x server

Comment 1 Stefan Schweizer (RETIRED) gentoo-dev

2004-09-11 09:24:23 UTC

This is the same issue as with kde .. Gentoo takes the source packages so everything gets installed. Do you think a DO_NOT_COMPILE like in kde would be enough?

Comment 2 Seemant Kulleen (RETIRED) gentoo-dev

2004-09-11 11:17:55 UTC

no, it would not.  We played with the idea of splitting up X, but it's just not possible without a major headache.  Debian, RH, and the binary distros can do this, because they compile the entire X and then just split the *binaries* into different debs/rpms.  As a source based distro, we can't, I'm sorry. I've spent 6 months of my life trying to do this, and it's just too much of a hassle to do.

Now, for the good news.  The Debrix project is what will come to the forefront for the next xorg-x11 release.  Google debrix and you'll see how much better things will get.

As for xterm, it already _is_ a separate package -- xorg-x11 does not install the xterm binary.