Remove dependencies in other packages to this one

[Pander]

Binary package hint: ttf-freefont

Users that also have TeX Live installed in /usr/local end up with two installations on these freefonts. One set from TeX Live which is always the latest version and one older set via this package. Because TeX Live has its own update mechanism, they can offer new releases of these fonts quicker than Ubuntu can.

So some users would like to deinstall this package, however, due to dependencies, this is not possible or it creates a mess in package management. For example cups, ubuntu-desktop and vlc have dependencies on this package. If TeX Live wa proper packaged by Ubuntu, this would not be a problem. Unfortunately, Ubuntu does not offer a recent package for TeX Live, hence the request.

Dropping these dependencies allow TeX Live users to deinstall ttf-freefonts and keep their system coherent.

[Pander (pander)]

Dependencies on fonts of which most should be suggested and not required dependencies.

[Steve White (stevan-white)]

I agree.

From my perspective, it is annoying that I have to tell people to do uncomfortable things to install a more recent version of the fonts on their system.

CUPS however depends on FreeMono.
The obvious solution to the CUPS dependency would be to bundle a special copy and put it in a special place (not in the usual system font paths) for its own use.

Whose business is that however? Is this a CUPS issue or a Debian or a Ubuntu issue?

Cheers!

[Pander (pander)]

I don't think CUPS really needs this dependency. Best way is to explain the CUPS maintainer the situation so he will endorse dropping this dependecy. Then the Ubuntu and Debian package managers can change the package.

[Pander (pander)]

See also bug report at CUPS to request advise for dropping the dependency http://www.cups.org/str.php?L3945+P0+S-2+C0+I0+E0+M20+Q

[Pander (pander)]

OK, CUPS development team has confirmed that this depency can be dropped, see http://www.cups.org/str.php?L3945 This workload has been diverted to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cups/+bug/853921 Other dependencies (mplayer, vlc, font-config, gramps, ubuntu-desktop) that need to be dropped will be filed as separate bugs and will be referenced to from here.

[Pander (pander)]

See:
vlc: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vlc/+bug/854575
mplayer: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mplayer/+bug/854576
gramps: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gramps/+bug/854577
fontconfig: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fontconfig/+bug/854579
ubuntu-desktop (ubuntu-meta): https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/854580
When these fixes are leased, this bug report can be closed.

[Scott Kitterman (kitterman)]

This is wrong. If a package needs ttf-freefont, then it should depend on it. If there is a confusion due to some external update mechanism, that's what needs to be fixed.

[Pander (pander)]

Scott, dependencies should be kept at a minimum and for CUPS it is clear that it can be dropped. So that is nevertheless a valid report.

The real problem is that Ubuntu is not packaging TeX Live so people have to install TeX Live manually. This is provided with a good installer that plays nicely together with Ubuntu. However, the multiple offerings of gnu freefonts can resulting in core dumps of xelatex application. These kind of errors need to be avoided at all time, especially when they are know and what situations causes these. This will also be the case when Ubuntu will continue to repackage TeX Live and keep up with the lastest version.

TeX Live is a package is somewhat volitile as it offers also its own updates (which dpkg should keep up with or allow for). However, the reality is that Ubuntu ships TeX Live 2009 while version 2011 is already out there.

What do you suggest on how to fix this situation?

[Jeremy Bicha (jbicha)]

I agree that this bug is invalid. It is definitely not Debian or Ubuntu's fault that some outside installer installs things that conflict with Ubuntu packages. That's the reason you should be using software from the repositories. Or if you insist on ignoring this advice, try reporting this bug to the tlmgr developers.

There is already a bug open for updating TexLive to the 2011 version.

[Jeremy Bicha (jbicha)]

Also, the version of ttf-freefont in Debian testing and Ubuntu 11.10 is the latest version available.