GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 357815
Ekiga depends on evolution-data-server
Last modified: 2006-09-26 19:19:58 UTC
Initially reported at: https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/ekiga/+bug/62441 I recently noticed Ekiga depends on evolution-data-server when trying to remove evolution packages. I understand Ekiga uses Evolution's backend for directory information storage ? Can this dependency be removed at some point ? It seems this would also help Ekiga towards having a Windows version, unless the Windows version requires installing Evolution in the future (!). I don't particularly care about or would use a Windows version of Ekiga, except in cases where transition and migration are eased by that. It seems odd the functionality required introduces the need for an additional 15MB of otherwise unused packages (evolution-data-server), assuming you don't use/need Evolution. Why storing SIP adresses requires a 10MB+ package is a bit beyond my understanding of good practices in system resources usage. It's difficult to explain why this kind of dependency exists when asked to remove unused or unnecessary packages on desktop setups.
I don't consider this as a bug, it's part of the Gnome integration of Ekiga. Gnome's tool for this stuff is Evolution (just like a MS app on windows would query and use the outlook addressbook). For the windows-version and/or a complete Gnome independant version, there's --disable-gnome. That also switches to another contact storage backend. Feel free to re-open if you think this answer isn't a good one or if you think there's a better solution (it's primarily a Gnome program, still).
Sorry, I forgot: a new addressbook system might come in future, think of plugins and so, that would solve it, anyways.
I think Ekiga's UI should provide a way to choose this, or perhaps do it via the Gnome preferred applications, unless the directory functionality is critical to Ekiga. How did Gnomemeeting manage this before ? Is Ekiga's Windows build dependant of this package too ? My point is that if someone wants to remove Evolution and use Thunderbird, they risk removing Ekiga before even knowing what it is. I still think it is a bug, as relying on evolution-data server seems overkill for the basic functionality provided by Ekiga's directory functions. Leaving the great power that be decide... ;)
Okay, leaving open as enhancement request. Of course, the windows version uses --disable-gnome variant, which means all Gnome-deps, including Evolution disappear. However, as mentioned before, with a possible plugin system this shouldn't be a big deal. You just install all plugins you need/want. The plugins then will have the specific deps. For now it's impossible, unless you integrate static code for every known contact organizer/email client and let the user choose (Evo and Thunderbird are not the only ones ;-) ). Thanks ;)
Well, two remarks : 1) it will disappear when the next version will have the evolution-data-server dependancy as a plugin ; 2) if your theoretical user wants to get rid of evolution and removes evolution-data-server, I suggest him/her to get rid of glib too, and removing glibc ; 3) (yes, I'm a math teacher) evolution-data-server isn't as big a dependancy as you seem to make it.