Nixpkgs: unstable part of version instead of pname

[jtojnar]

As discussed in https://github.com/repology/repology/issues/854#issuecomment-530450656, in many packages we currently have unstable a part of version, rather than pname suggested in https://nixos.org/nixpkgs/manual/#sec-package-naming. I know I am guilty of promulgating this and we should probably fix that before switching Repology to pname & version.

$ rg version.+=.+unstable pkgs
pkgs/servers/echoip/default.nix
pkgs/servers/demoit/default.nix
pkgs/games/gnome-hexgl/default.nix
pkgs/games/warmux/default.nix
pkgs/misc/lguf-brightness/default.nix
pkgs/games/gscrabble/default.nix
pkgs/misc/uq/default.nix
pkgs/misc/sound-of-sorting/default.nix
pkgs/games/frogatto/default.nix
pkgs/games/frogatto/engine.nix
pkgs/games/frogatto/data.nix
pkgs/servers/mumsi/default.nix
pkgs/servers/webmetro/default.nix
pkgs/development/beam-modules/hex-registry-snapshot.nix
pkgs/development/lua-modules/overrides.nix
pkgs/desktops/surf-display/default.nix
pkgs/games/qgo/default.nix
pkgs/games/devilutionx/default.nix
pkgs/games/assaultcube/default.nix
pkgs/data/fonts/gelasio/default.nix
pkgs/data/fonts/noto-fonts/tools.nix
pkgs/data/fonts/lalezar-fonts/default.nix
pkgs/data/fonts/ir-standard-fonts/default.nix
pkgs/data/fonts/xkcd-font/default.nix
pkgs/servers/monitoring/prometheus/json-exporter.nix
pkgs/development/compilers/crystal/crystal2nix.nix
pkgs/development/compilers/carp/default.nix
pkgs/development/compilers/z88dk/default.nix
pkgs/development/compilers/gerbil/unstable.nix
pkgs/development/compilers/openspin/default.nix
pkgs/development/compilers/qbe/default.nix
pkgs/development/compilers/gambit/unstable.nix
pkgs/development/misc/rappel/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/dee/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/libgumath/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/libunity/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/libxnd/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/tess/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/rdocker/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/fusee-launcher/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/quicktemplate/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/ofono-phonesim/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/libelfin/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/osslsigncode/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/mutest/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/libndtypes/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/statik/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/go-outline/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/multipart-parser-c/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/yaml2json/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/mumlib/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/yubico-pam/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/coin3d/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/nxt-python/default.nix
pkgs/development/ocaml-modules/ppx_tools/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/soxt/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/ticpp/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/rapidcheck/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/g2o/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/nmigen-boards/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/pybluez/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/beignet/default.nix
pkgs/development/ocaml-modules/ocaml-libvirt/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/ptable/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/dep2nix/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/gthree/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/nmigen/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/glasgow/default.nix
pkgs/development/libraries/libykclient/default.nix
pkgs/tools/backup/iceshelf/default.nix
pkgs/tools/backup/easysnap/default.nix
pkgs/tools/backup/diskrsync/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/vgo2nix/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/easyjson/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/google_cloud_testutils/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/backports_shutil_get_terminal_size/default.nix
pkgs/tools/networking/openconnect_pa/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/pytest-ordering/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/pymaging_png/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/nbmerge/default.nix
pkgs/tools/package-management/cargo-outdated/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/fx2/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/vdirsyncer/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/ltunify/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/zabbixctl/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/gif-for-cli/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/python-unshare/default.nix
pkgs/tools/X11/xcape/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/cht.sh/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/pyfantom/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/dpt-rp1-py/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/fffuu/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/pandoc-imagine/default.nix
pkgs/tools/misc/uhubctl/default.nix
pkgs/tools/graphics/yaxg/default.nix
pkgs/tools/graphics/svgbob/default.nix
pkgs/os-specific/linux/fscrypt/default.nix
pkgs/tools/security/ripasso/cursive.nix
pkgs/tools/security/b2sum/default.nix
pkgs/os-specific/linux/facetimehd/default.nix
pkgs/os-specific/linux/anbox/default.nix
pkgs/applications/window-managers/yabar/unstable.nix
pkgs/applications/window-managers/i3/pystatus.nix
pkgs/applications/window-managers/i3/layout-manager.nix
pkgs/applications/window-managers/kbdd/default.nix
pkgs/applications/window-managers/i3/blocks.nix
pkgs/os-specific/linux/ledger-udev-rules/default.nix
pkgs/applications/networking/flent/http-getter.nix
pkgs/applications/networking/ps2client/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/antfs-cli/default.nix
pkgs/applications/virtualization/virt-top/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/qt-box-editor/default.nix
pkgs/applications/editors/amp/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/gpscorrelate/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/web-media-controller/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/tilix/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/tdrop/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/pymaging/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/perkeep/default.nix
pkgs/development/python-modules/pytricia/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/cataract/unstable.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/kjv/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/pbpst/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/slstatus/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/autospotting/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/lifelines/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/ssocr/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/bicon/default.nix
pkgs/applications/misc/glom/default.nix
pkgs/applications/office/planner/default.nix
pkgs/applications/office/bookworm/default.nix
pkgs/applications/graphics/ufraw/default.nix
pkgs/applications/video/mjpg-streamer/default.nix
pkgs/applications/audio/rhvoice/default.nix
pkgs/applications/audio/speech-denoiser/default.nix
pkgs/applications/audio/musly/default.nix
pkgs/servers/sql/postgresql/ext/pgjwt.nix
pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/redo-apenwarr/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/misc/blackmagic/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/misc/universal-ctags/default.nix
pkgs/development/tools/analysis/panopticon/default.nix
pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/latexrun/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/gala/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/pantheon/artwork/elementary-redacted-script/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/core/vino/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/extensions/window-corner-preview/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/extensions/tilingnome/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/extensions/timepp/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/extensions/sound-output-device-chooser/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/extensions/mediaplayer/default.nix
pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/extensions/caffeine/default.nix
pkgs/applications/window-managers/xmonad/log-applet/default.nix
pkgs/applications/networking/remote/x2goclient/default.nix
pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/chatterino2/default.nix
pkgs/applications/version-management/git-and-tools/git-reparent/default.nix
pkgs/applications/version-management/git-and-tools/gitstatus/default.nix
pkgs/applications/science/biology/poretools/default.nix
pkgs/applications/science/electronics/fped/default.nix
pkgs/applications/science/electronics/verilog/default.nix
pkgs/applications/graphics/gimp/plugins/default.nix
pkgs/applications/audio/deadbeef/plugins/lyricbar.nix
pkgs/applications/audio/csound/csound-manual/default.nix
pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/pidgin-plugins/pidgin-opensteamworks/default.nix
pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/pidgin-plugins/purple-discord/default.nix

The documentation should probably be clarified re this.
cc @volth @worldofpeace

[worldofpeace]

But even with this scheme pname won't be the upstream name. Is the rule even desirable?
What does repology do to consider package version which are commits off the source repo?

[jtojnar]

Repology can mark packages ending with unstable as ignored (light gray).

[jtojnar]

The main issue with where to place unstable probably comes from the fact that we use it for two different things:

• unstable variants of packages – should go to pname
• main package but version obtained from VCS (because the latest release is too old and broken) – should go to version

Nix makes it hard to tell which is which since it does not know any blessed attributes other than name, and parseDrvName only recognizes the first case.

[worldofpeace]

@jtojnar and I also talked about this on IRC #nixos-dev

• https://logs.nix.samueldr.com/nixos-dev/2019-09-11#2580803;

(note: when I say "attributes" I meant attrPath in all-packages.nix)

[ryantm]

@volth made a good summary comment about this https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/68531#issuecomment-533760929

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[jtojnar]

Still unresolved.