Re: [PATCH] Proposal for new sets

[Martin Husemann <martin%duskware.de@localhost>]

On Thu, Apr 04, 2024 at 07:23:45AM +0000, nia wrote:
> Recently martin discussed the history of xz set compression on NetBSD
> and its reasons. We would like to fit the sets for sparc64 into a
> CD image, but currently they do not. One solution was to compress
> the sets with xz (which increased decompression times significantly
> on slow hardware), another would be to add more sets.
> 
> base32 is a proposed set for the base system's compatibility libraries.
> I expect to make an xbase32 later. base32 has prior art - freebsd has a
> lib32 set.

We also need a debug32 and xdebug32 set.

> manhtml is a proposed set for the HTML parts of the 'man' set. Items
> here require third-party software to be useful.

I wonder if we should move everyting requiring rump into a separate set too,
but let's see where we end with the overall size first.

> Stats:
> 
> * base32 weighs in at 14MB on riscv when compressed with gzip,
> * base32 is significantly bigger on mips due to its many ABIs,
>   weighing in at 28MB.
> * manhtml weighs in at 5MB on riscv when compressed with gzip.

I guess the debug sets will gain significant space.

> Concerns:
> 
> * Currently there seems to be no way to have endian-neutral
>   architecture-dependent set lists, so the set lists for MIPS are
>   duplicated.

Ooops, that should be fixed in the awk scripts (but I am not volunteering :-/)

Martin