[racket] the current package submission system is a mess

I had similar issues (in particular with it being difficult to determine when my updates had been accepted by the server). I also ran into the "logging in" message which never made progress. That seemed to resolve by trying again the next day...


I also ran into trouble that it seemed like the correct url for a github repo is not git: but github:, and it needed the branch name tacked on at the end.




I managed to get my package listed, and I don't mean to complain. Just thought I'd mention it in case it revealed some particular bug with the website.




Cheers,

Scott

On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 8:55 PM, Jay McCarthy <jay.mccarthy at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Ryan,
> On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 7:14 PM, Ryan Davis <zenspider at gmail.com> wrote:
>> The package submission system is hostile and incredibly frustrating to use.
>>
>> I've tried a bazillion times now to submit a package (check-sexp-equal) and ensure that:
>>
>> 1) the source points to a git repo properly: it keeps going to an https url and then fails on install because it doesn't have a MANIFEST file. Subsequent changes to git: protocol urls get reverted silently.
> When you use an HTTP(S) URL that points to a directory, such as
> "https://github.com/zenspider/check-sexp-equal/" then this means to
> take the directory and look for a MANIFEST file with a list of the
> other files to get. This is because HTTP does not provide a directory
> browsing feature. This is documented where package sources are [1] in
> bullet four, labeled "a remote URL naming a directory".
> You probably meant to name a Github repository, with the syntax...
> git://github.com/‹user›/‹repo›
> If you look at an example package, such as samth's abnf [2], you'll
> see that his source is: "git://github.com/samth/abnf". For
> convenience, the Web site makes this package source and Web link to
> the Github WWW interface, "http://github.com/samth/abnf/tree/master".
> But that link is not the source. The source is thing displayed next to
> "Source:".
> It is possible that we could make something like, "I see you are using
> HTTPS for a Github package, are you sure that's what you want?"
> Similarly, it is not intuitive that the "Copy link address" isn't a
> good thing to copy for the source, although I'm afraid I'm at a loss
> for where else would be a better place to put the link to the source
> code. Do you have any ideas?
> 1. http://docs.racket-lang.org/pkg/Package_Concepts.html#%28part._concept~3asource%29
> 2. http://pkgs.racket-lang.org/#[abnf]
> I assume that the behavior you're seeing of "changes ... get reverted
> silently" is because of what I comment on in the next item.
>> 2) it is tagged properly: the tags deleted themselves and now I can't edit the tags.
> When you input a new tag, the Web page you are seeing reflects your
> changes, but those changes are not necessarily updated through-out the
> world or when you hit refresh. When you refresh (and in the original
> window) it says (at the top in yellow), "update upload being computed:
> the information below may not represent all recent changes and
> updates".
> I need to improve the UI when the update computation fails. I assume
> that something happened on the server that lost the update and lost
> the changes you made.
>> 3) it is deleted. If nobody can install it, maybe I should delete it and start over? Can't.
> You don't need to delete it, you can just change the source. Of
> course, the reason deletion didn't work is because updates were broken
> on the server side.
>> Now when I reload the page it just says "Logging in..." at the top. Is this why my edits aren't going through?
> Yes, that means the server is busted and needs to be kicked, which I
> have done. I presume it died in the middle of your updates, which is
> why they were lost.
>> There's no way to log out, it seems. I guess I can forcibly delete any cookies for the domain, but is this really the way?
> If you are logged in, there is a log out button. If you are not logged
> in (such as being in the middle of "Logging in...") then you can't log
> out, because you aren't in.
>> I have no idea how to fix this at this point and need help. I'd be happy if the package were obliterated and I could start over.
> I believe you just want to change your source to
> "git://github.com/zenspider/check-sexp-equal" or something similar.
>> I just want to share code with you guys.
>>
>> This shouldn't be painful.
>>
>> I should want to do it again.
> I'm sorry that it was painful. I'm very interested in trying to
> improve and increase the reliability of the server. I'm happy to work
> with you on it. I'm "jeapostrophe" on the IRC channel and I'm happy to
> PM you my cell if that would be a more convenient way to work through
> it.
> Jay
>>
>> ____________________
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>>   http://lists.racket-lang.org/users
> -- 
> Jay McCarthy
> http://jeapostrophe.github.io
>            "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing,
>       for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.
> And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."
>                           - D&C 64:33
> ____________________
>   Racket Users list:
>   http://lists.racket-lang.org/users
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