[packagekit] RFC: Use 5 package states rather than 2 (big break in API)

[Duncan Mac-Vicar Prett]

Richard Hughes wrote:
> Right, I do see what you mean, but this is in the context of the
> add/remove software program, not the get-updates method.
>
> In the installer, you probably want to know that foo is updateable from
> 0.1.1 to 0.1.2. If the user tries to update, the backend tells them that
> 0.1.2 conflicts with frobnicator. The user is capable of removing
> frobnicator before doing the install, or they can just do the "easy"
> thing and update everything using the update viewer.
>
> I don't think displaying a package as "update" means "is able to
> update", just that an update is available.
>
> I do understand the problem tho, I just can't see another good way out
> of it short of depsolving each package (ouch).
>   

Sure, we call that concept Selectable in libzypp. A selectable groups
various resolvables, coming from different repositories, and usually it
has a collection of "available" objects, and installed (usually one,
except for kernels), and also an update "candidate" which is what you
describe.

Sounds reasonable for me, but I am still trying to see all the side
effects ;-)

Duncan