Arch Linux

Please read this before reporting a bug:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Bug_reporting_guidelines

Do NOT report bugs when a package is just outdated, or it is in the AUR. Use the 'flag out of date' link on the package page, or the Mailing List.

REPEAT: Do NOT report bugs for outdated packages!
Tasklist

FS#79381 - [man-pages] Depend on man?

Attached to Project: Arch Linux
Opened by Hanabishi (Hanabishi) - Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 10:31 GMT
Last edited by Toolybird (Toolybird) - Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 21:12 GMT
Task Type General Gripe
Category Packages: Core
Status Closed
Assigned To No-one
Architecture All
Severity Low
Priority Normal
Reported Version
Due in Version Undecided
Due Date Undecided
Percent Complete 100%
Votes 0
Private No

Details

Description:

man-pages requires man (man-db) to work, but not depend on it.
Old issues ( FS#38865 ,  FS#13590 ) are closed stating:

> Both man-db and man-pages are packages in {base} group

Which is no longer the case obviously. So I opened this report.

Additional info:
man-pages 6.05.01-1
This task depends upon

Closed by  Toolybird (Toolybird)
Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 21:12 GMT
Reason for closing:  Not a bug
Additional comments about closing:  See comments
Comment by nl6720 (nl6720) - Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 10:39 GMT
There are other man page viewers than man-db. The man pages themselves in no way depend on man.
As a side-note, I would argue that most people do not even need the kernel's man-pages at all.
Comment by Hanabishi (Hanabishi) - Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 10:45 GMT
> There are other man page viewers than man-db.

Yes, but there is general 'man' dependency provided by man viewers.

> The man pages themselves in no way depend on man.

Why localized man pages depend on man then?

> As a side-note, I would argue that most people do not even need the kernel's man-pages at all.

It is about man-pages -> man dependency, not vice versa.
Comment by nl6720 (nl6720) - Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 11:01 GMT
> Yes, but there is general 'man' dependency provided by man viewers.

There are graphical viewers like khelpcenter that don't.
Comment by Hanabishi (Hanabishi) - Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 11:29 GMT
Then ideally they should be updated to provide it.

Or if you decide that providing 'man' is a useless thing by itself, remove it completely.
Comment by Toolybird (Toolybird) - Tuesday, 15 August 2023, 21:12 GMT
> Which is no longer the case obviously

Yes, but "man" is now clearly mentioned in the installation guide [1] so is covered. It was done this way because of containers etc.

> Why localized man pages depend on man then?

Different maintainer, different circumstances, etc. But yes, I do agree that it's inconsistent. Feel free to file a separate ticket.

[1] https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide#Install_essential_packages

Loading...