Re: Updating the "ELPA Protocol"

[Jonas Bernoulli]

Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> writes:

>>> How about using something like Debian's transitional packages, where you
>>> replace the old package with an empty package that just depends on the
>>> new package?  Would that work?
>>
>> I would prefer if package.el took care of it.
>> `package-update-all' could ask:
>>
>>   Package `foo' has been renamed to `foobar'.
>>   When a package is renamed, then names of variables and functions
>>   often change as well, making it necessary to adjust configuration.
>>
>>   Would you like to replace `foo' with `foobar' now?
>>   yes/no/no, don't ask again
>
> This discussion of replacement reminds me of the more general problem of
> restructuring where a package may split into 2 (or more), or the reverse.
>
> The combination of dependencies and renaming/replacement may cover all
> those cases if used wisely, but we should pay attention to the details
> so that it does.

A common variant of "or the reverse" is when a package absorbs a
formerly independent package.  evil-collection has absorbed several
mode-specific packages that uses to developed independently.