Re: [BuildStream] Proposal: Allowing download-only sources to work on local files

[Jürg Billeter <j bitron ch>]

Hi Will,

On Mon, 2019-12-02 at 12:42 +0000, William Salmon via buildstream-list
wrote:
> On 02/12/2019 10:19, Tom Mewett via buildstream-list wrote:
> > [...]
> > - If the URL is a relative path, specifying a ref is optional. If it is
> >    given and is different from what is calculated, an error is throw
>
> This seems like the path of smallest disruption to existing users I 
> would be tempted by not letting local not have a ref unless specified in 
> project.conf but dose that sound too disruptive to others?

I wouldn't want to enforce refs for local files, even if there was no
compatibility concern.

Local files with relative paths are enforced to be in the project
directory and in the typical case the whole project directory is in git
or another version control system. I don't see an advantage in
burdening the user with an extra step (bst source track) for every
change in a local file, if the .bst file with the ref and the local
file are anyway tracked by the same VCS.

Do you have a scenario or work flow in mind where enforcing refs would
provide a real benefit for local files?

Cheers,
Jürg