mesonbuild/meson

Dependency checks should automatically offer to install the necessary -dev packages

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#2,292 opened on Sep 7, 2017

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 (14 comments) (1 reaction) (0 assignees)Python (4,978 stars) (1,465 forks)batch import
dependenciesenhancementhelp wanted

Description

Similar to what some distros have for missing commands:

$ jython
bash: jython: command not found...
Install package 'jython' to provide command 'jython'? [N/y]

This will really improve the 'build a project for the first time' experience, which is pretty shit for all build systems in the world right now, as detailed in https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/985#issuecomment-267258425.

Must also include an option for disabling this when building in CI, for instance.

Contributor guide

Tech stack
python
Domain
developer experiencebuild system
Issue type
feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-2 days
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
stale
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
Familiarity with Meson build systemKnowledge of Linux package managersPython programmingShell scripting
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
45
Research direction
Start by examining the current dependency detection logic in Meson, likely in the `mesonbuild` module. Review the linked issue #985 and the comments in this issue for design ideas. Investigate how package managers like apt and yum provide missing command suggestions. Consider implementing a prompt that queries the package database and offers installation. Ensure there is an option to disable for CI.