Question: could we handle this problem with the new asdf contrib idea? Could we distribute an ASDF:RUN-SHELL-COMMAND based in the XCVB code base along with ASDF using a contrib system?
I am reluctant to see RUN-SHELL-COMMAND no longer be distributed with ASDF, since it seems to make a hash of our claims that ASDF can manage systems that mix other code with common lisp code. I don't believe that invoking external facilities should rely on additional ASDF system dependencies. But I am sympathetic to the idea that RUN-SHELL-COMMAND is too big to fit in asdf.lisp, if done properly.
A second question: can we provide something like autoload for RUN-SHELL-COMMAND, based on ASDF:LOAD-SYSTEM, to minimize dislocation? If we have something like autoload, then people won't have to rejigger their system structures if we deprecate R-S-C away. Indeed, if we give them a better version, then they would just be a step ahead.
Finally, if we provide a better R-S-C, how do users differentiate? #+asdf2 is simply too coarse a tool now. #+asdf-run-shell-command ?
Cheers, r