[Rd] [PATCH] Makefile: add support for git svn clones

[Nathan Kurz]

On Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 1:00 PM, Felipe Balbi <balbi at kernel.org> wrote:
> I just thought that such a small patch which causes no visible change to
> SVN users and allow for git users to build R would be acceptable, but if
> it isn't, that's fine too.

Felipe ---

It would appear that you are unaware that you are walking a minefield
of entrenched positions and personality conflicts.  For those like
myself who are mystified by the positions taken in this thread, a
partial back story may be helpful.

In 2012, Han-Tak Leung reported a problem compiling the development
version of R that he had checked out using git's svn compability
feature: https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-devel/2012-October/065133.html

In 2013, Brian Ripley applied a patch with the comment "trap HK Leung
misuse" explicitly to prevent users from being able to do this:
https://github.com/wch/r-source/commit/4f13e5325dfbcb9fc8f55fc6027af9ae9c7750a3

Shortly thereafter, Han-Tak tried to start discussion on this list
about that patch, suggesting that preventing the use of non-SVN
mirrors reduced the frequency with which development versions would be
tested:
https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-devel/2013-March/066128.html

The opinions expressed on the thread were universally against Leung.
Peter Dalgaard summarized as:
"The generic point is that you are given access to a working tool that
is internal to the core R developers. We are not putting restrictions
on what you do with that access, but if you want to play the game by
other rules than we do, you need to take the consequences. If things
don't work and you start complaining about them being "broken", steps
may be taken to make it clearer who broke them."
https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-devel/2013-March/066131.html

As a newcomer hoping to contribute to R who had already encountered
this same compilation issue and considered it was a bug, I am
astounded to learn that it is instead desired and intentional
behavior.

--nate