Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 05:39:06 -0500 (CDT) From: Lars Eighner <portsuser@larseighner.com> To: Torfinn Ingolfsen <tingox@gmail.com> Cc: FreeBSD Ports ML <freebsd-ports@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: suggestion for pkgdb from ports-mgmt/portupgrade: add more explanation Message-ID: <alpine.BSF.2.00.1109030538490.41273@abbf.6qbyyneqvnyhc> In-Reply-To: <CAJ_iqtYk36LtDM0kk-NZ0sUKO16_QtNxdy_qd1DvEYGgkv_6Ww@mail.gmail.com> References: <201109011333.p81DX2sN081775@fire.js.berklix.net> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1109021657410.1576@abbf.6qbyyneqvnyhc> <4E61BB11.9070007@FreeBSD.org> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1109030142530.35982@abbf.6qbyyneqvnyhc> <CAJ_iqtYk36LtDM0kk-NZ0sUKO16_QtNxdy_qd1DvEYGgkv_6Ww@mail.gmail.com>
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This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text, while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools. --21774345-1110645530-1315046307=:41273 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: QUOTED-PRINTABLE On Sat, 3 Sep 2011, Torfinn Ingolfsen wrote: >> The correct word for what computer people call a dependency is 'requisit= e.' >> Perl is a requisite of my script. =A0My script is a dependency of perl. > > If somebody decides to "fix" the language of these tools (or any tools > for that matter), they should keep in mind that many users are > non-native speakers of the English language. > Correct English is good, but but plain, simple and common English is bett= er. > No uncommon words please. Curiously enough, the man page for portupgrade begins by defining "required= " and "dependent" accurately. These are adjectives, but a step in the right direction. "Requirement" might do better than "requisite." Unfortunately, the messages emitted by parts of the portupgrade package do not achieve a similar level of clarity. For example, in certain circumstances, portuprade says "Gathering depends." "Depends" is a verb (and now a proprietary name for adult diapers) -- it does not have a sense as a common noun. I understand why such abbreviated messages may be useful in programming and debugging. But it does not belong in the production copy. Either it shoul= d be meaningful to the user or it should be eliminated. --=20 Lars Eighner http://www.larseighner.com/index.html 8800 N IH35 APT 1191 AUSTIN TX 78753-5266 --21774345-1110645530-1315046307=:41273--
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