Why is apache supported, but not php4?

[psychoelmo]

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 11:30:22 +0100, sparkes <sparkes at westmids.biz> wrote:
> Mark C wrote:
> > I've just installed apache/php4 for some development work and noticed
> > that php4 is only in universal, does this mean it will not get security
> > updates?
> >
> > It seems kinda weird, that apache is supported, but not php4, as this
> > would stop (for me anyway) the machine being used in production enviroment.
> >
> > Mark
> > 
> ubuntu is a desktop distro so php4 patches aren't really a priority.
> 
> I can't see how the lack of php4 security updates stop ubuntu being used
> as a development workstation ;-)

that may be what you use it for, however, the desktop is not the only
target audience. according to their web site....

from http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu/applications/document_view

"On the Ubuntu installation disk you will find specialised software
for databases, web serving, email hosting and DNS name serving,
internet cacheing and directory services. Ubuntu also includes Samba
for Windows file sharing, FTP server software for large file
repositories and NTP for network time services. Ubuntu can be
installed in a minimal server configuration optimised for datacenter
servers that will not be used as desktop machines."

and from http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu/components/document_view

"We believe that the software in main includes everything most people
will need for a fully functional desktop or internet server running
only open source software."

by basing ubuntu on testing/unstable debian, they do not have the
luxury of just utilizing debian-released security updates (they dont
exist, for the most part), so ubuntu developers need to produce their
own. i understand that. however, popular packages, such as php4, must
be supported, including security updates. without them, ubuntu is
pretty much useless in any server or exposed (to the internet)
environment.