passwd-* confusing PostInst message

"Daniel Macks" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups gmane.os.apple.fink.core
Message-ID <[email protected]>
On 10.7, installing the various passwd-* packages prompts (via PostInst) for confirmation before merging the specific user/group into the system. However, it *always* does this, even when reinstalling. So:

$ fink install passwd-games
["Y" to accept]

$ id games
uid=253(games) gid=253(games) groups=253(games),12(everyone),61(localaccounts)
$ fink install passwd-games
[same prompt, noting that the existing user/uid/etc will be overwritten]

Now that we're moving towards being sensitive to systems that have non-simple user/authentication arrangements (network logins, "not just fink" doing funky stuff locally, etc.), we should at least provide some recognition of the current state of affairs before giving such a scary-looking prompt. At a minimum, the PostInst should check for and display existing entries for the user/uid that would be created. Then the message could be more specific about things being overwritten vs created vs "it's already as expected, do you want to reinstall anyway? [default=N]". Otherwise every time we update passwd, all fink users have to pause and think about how to procede (often blindly, which we should not be promoting) with system-level modifications for no reason. 

dan

 --
Daniel Macks
[email protected]


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