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Date:      Wed, 9 Jan 2019 08:28:21 -0700
From:      Warner Losh <imp@bsdimp.com>
To:        Stefan Esser <se@freebsd.org>
Cc:        "Conrad E. Meyer" <cem@freebsd.org>, "freebsd-arch@freebsd.org" <freebsd-arch@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Re: GNU-compatible, BSD-licensed bc
Message-ID:  <CANCZdfqCfFhxBtchvBL1vP2KqgY1bZUbWC_eR62KNAdan2vr-Q@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <7c5da163-e12d-2de0-761e-22436fb28b86@freebsd.org>
References:  <CAF=dzRNnurahLBOaKgq8_bDXNuM8biYPFbj6F2vp0t58Ejp8bg@mail.gmail.com> <A6C4B09B-4156-47A4-89B0-80E8688D59FC@FreeBSD.org> <CAG6CVpU-rgUVvWYDA%2B2qw62hzK1xOEqVwmXGSx2yrfqNMX8e7w@mail.gmail.com> <CAF=dzRNJMvNq0yiPPdWNk-F8--RPX3D6aydLpmLLX3xyvMAoQw@mail.gmail.com> <1e025f53-fc5e-5b1e-013d-ab9330a0e9db@freebsd.org> <CAG6CVpVe7yMrV1T9W1Qm5rMsTqq3T2LsYJkMKDd0EabAdDj=uQ@mail.gmail.com> <753bc6bf-9269-1ca2-550c-cb7622812a01@freebsd.org> <CAG6CVpU9VahQtYAijzz=M_dbg3R-z9ddbd_aEo8Z9bc3E=m1og@mail.gmail.com> <7c5da163-e12d-2de0-761e-22436fb28b86@freebsd.org>

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On Wed, Jan 9, 2019 at 5:33 AM Stefan Esser <se@freebsd.org> wrote:

> Am 08.01.19 um 22:35 schrieb Conrad Meyer:
> > Hi Stefan,
> >
> > Apologies, I misunderstood the idea.
> >
> > However, it seems like any port that depends on gnubc today could
> continue
> > to depend on gnubc on older branches until a suitable replacement
> > propagates into stable.  (And that would be less work :-).)
>
> Yes, but the work has already been done ;-)
>
> I've been exchanging private mails with Gavin and he has worked
> on his "bc", e.g. to make the included tests run on FreeBSD out
> of the box (they used to require GNU bc).
>
> A few small issues have been fixed and he is looking into another
> one (^D handling). Working on the port (and tests performed with
> its preliminary version) has already improved the quality of the
> code that is about to be imported into base ...
>
> If users actually try running with Gavin's bc (as a port) before
> it makes it into a release, there is a good chance that any
> unexpected incompatibilitiy (e.g., if it is compatible with GNU
> bc, but behaves differently from our current bc in base) is found
> in time.
>
> So, I intend to proceed with an import as a port, independently
> of the import into base, which I appreciate, too.
>

We've had several BSDL'd things that started life as a port. I think this
is a great strategy: make it available TODAY as a port (since the barrier
to entry is small), if it pans out, integrate into base.

Warner



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