Re: [PATCH] Remove dependency on IO::String from Git.pm test

[Johannes Schindelin <Johannes.Schindelin@gmx.de>]

Hi,

On Wed, 18 Jun 2008, Jakub Narebski wrote:

> On Wed, 18 Jun 2008, Johannes Schindelin wrote:
>
> > BTW I think it is not nice at all how the dependency hell with Git.pm 
> > is made worse recently.
> 
> It is not dependency for Git.pm, but for Git.pm TEST.

So?  Why do you want to break the _test_ on those machines where you need 
them most?  We _know_ that a release from Junio works fine on Linux.

> > It is fascinating through how much _pain_ we go with the shell scripts 
> > to maintain portability, even with _very_ old or obscure systems (see 
> > the SCO server patches that came in not long ago!), and just walk over 
> > that portability when it comes to Perl...
> 
> And I pointed out how it could be resolved (use 5.8 specific feature, or 
> IO::String, or skip tests).

I have to point out that the platforms I was speaking of are not know to 
make upgrading as easy as Linux.  And some of them _do_ come with pretty 
old perl.  And yes, I had this exact issue (remember when I worked on 
removing Git's dependency on Python?  That was it.  Not enough quota.  
Uncooperative admin.  Desperate need for a sensible SCM).

In any case, I have to reiterate my point: breaking 
backwards-compatibility for _no_ good reason is wrong.  I have not looked 
at the patch in question, but I seriously doubt that this is the easiest, 
most elegant (and yes, backwards-compatible) solution.

Typically, it is not a good sign when you _require_ newer and newer 
features and versions of components you use.

Whatever,
Dscho