When PackageManager is loaded, could LoadPackage give useful tips on failure?

[wilfwilson]

This is just a vague idea. Suppose that LoadPackage("new"); fails. If appropriate, LoadPackage could mention things such as...

• If PackageManager knows about the package new, but no version of new seems to be installed, it could offer to install new.
• If new is present but not compiled, it could offer to compile the package.
• If it fails because of a package that it depends on, it could offer to install/update/compile that dependency.

I'm not sure about the feasibility of any of this! Just thought I'd record my ideas here.

[mtorpey]

Some good ideas here! We've talked about something like InstallAndLoadPackage that would combine the two somehow, but maybe the idea of having LoadPackage give hints to PackageManager is a good one.

A minimal idea would be a message that says "Could not load package. Consider using InstallPackage to install or update it.

I guess this is something that needs to be done in GAP itself? Or perhaps we could have this package override LoadPackage in some way.

[slel]

Another idea:

• When LoadPackage("new"); requires access to the web,
  first check for network connectivity. If it turns out there is
  no internet access, fail with a clear message stating that.