[Catalog-sig] We need to make a decision wrt distribution names

[Jim Fulton]

Obviously, we are having a debate about what forms distribution names  
can take.  I think we need a decision.

Does anyone know if there are existing rules for package names?  I  
can't find them if there are.  Up until now, I think we've been in  
somewhat of a prototyping mode, but I think it's time to move beyond  
that.

I strongly suggest that we need an official specification that says:

- what's a legal package name and

- what the equivalence rules for package names are.

Whatever we decide needs to be well supported by setuptools and  
PyPI.  I can live with whatever we decide as long as we decide  
something and make sure it is well communicated and implemented. In  
particular, I could live with the equivalence rules that setuptools  
uses if they are documented and if they are supported correctly and  
efficiently by the index (including mirrors).

IMO, a decision is extremely important.  If we can't reach consensus,  
then we need to call in the BDFL.

Jim

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