Re: XFree86 modularization

David Dawes ([email protected]):

> Some of us feel that having a simple, complete and integrated build
> process is important.  Addressing the well-known build-time
> configuration inadequacies would be a better solution in my opinion,
> and would have broader benefit than just this specific class of issue.
> 
> Maybe in the end it's just the philosophical difference between those
> who prefer, say, the FreeBSD approach vs the typical Linux approach.
> I can go to freebsd.org, check out the FreeBSD CVS, and build a
> complete and well-integrated system from a single command line.

  I don't think this is the only philosophical difference.  In my
opinion, it is clearly more convenient for both users and developers of
a project to have it include the source trees of their dependencies.
Lots of reasons have been mentioned.

  That said, linking to externally maintained libraries means you're
    a) respecting that you are a member in a larger development
       community, and
    b) making an implicit commitment to that project that you will
       contribute back fixes.

  Neither of these are obligations under the licensing, but I think to
do otherwise is somewhat insulting to the maintainers (packaging and
maintaining a library and ensuring compatibility and widespread
usefulness is hard work), and also somewhat anti-social to the larger
development community, regardless of any technical argument either way.

  -Billy