Handling optional package requirements

[Hans de Goede]

Ralf Ertzinger wrote:
> Hi.
> 
> Given that RPM does not (yet) support Suggests: tags or something like this
> I'd like your opinion on a single case.
> 
> I maintain fwbuilder in FE, a tool to manage and create firewall rulesets.
> fwbuilder can work with a version management system (RCS) to create
> versioned rulesets. Using version control is optional, and fwbuilder works
> just fine without it. However, it always offers version control, even if
> RCS is not installed. Trying to enable version control without RCS being
> installed results in a not-too-helpful error message.
> 
> So: should fwbuilder Require: rcs? I have not received any bugs about this,
> but noticed it myself while using fwbuilder.
> 

Either it should Require: rcs, or you should patch it to give an error 
message telling the user to install rcs and including instructions howto 
install rcs.

Regards,

Hans