Problem

Vendors (distributors, administrators) might want to modify the specification. gsettings has a similar feature.

Constraints

There are many constraints in providing such a feature because it is possible to get an inconsistent or unusable specification.

Assumptions

Developers who elektrify their applications do care about good integration and being administer friendly.

Considered Alternatives

• implementing a new namespace that gets merged
• merge specification files during installation

Decision

Provide means that a single specification can satisfy every distribution and administrator.

Rationale

• Elektra wants to reduce fragmentation, and vendor specific changes obviously is a severe kind of fragmentation
• providing vendor overrides/fallbacks might be an excuse to not provide better typing or general overrides/fallbacks features which would avoid the need for a vendor overrides/fallbacks at all

Implications

Provide means for a single specification to be very good integrated in every system.

Related Decisions

Notes