Remove ash dependency

[dviererbe]

This PR drops the dependency on ash.

Rationale:

The ash binary package was dropped in Debian unstable, see https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=920644 and will be removed for Ubuntu starting with Ubuntu 24.10 (Oracular Oriole), see https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dash/+bug/2073141.

[suntong]

@neurobin? LGTM.

[dviererbe]

@suntong @neurobin just checking in on this PR

It’s been a while since there was any activity. Is there anything I can do to help move it forward? Thanks!

[suntong]

Hmm... giving the fact that @neurobin hasn't been responding for so long, maybe you want to fork the repo, @dviererbe ?

Or, maybe we start with Debian local patch first? Sorry, it's been on my mind but I haven't got around even for such simple fix. The trouble is that I lost the powerful machine that I used to use for Debian build, and my DD request was turned down despite that I've been managing Debian packages for over a decade. I.e., now I don't have a proper build machine to start with.
Maybe you can do a NM upload for it, @dviererbe ?

[dviererbe]

maybe you want to fork the repo

Technically I/we already did :D My motivation with this PR was purely that Ubuntu can drop the delta. It's fine for me if this PR does not land. I will look into an NMU.

Thank you for your consideration :)

[suntong]

Hi All,

Eriberto Mota [email protected] was the only one that I know of that uses this Debian package while I was maintaining the package. Now knowing more people are using it, I decided to give some content why this shc package ends up like this. Please continue your read at

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1072469#19

Alternative ways to use shc:

• I continue to maintain shc at my own PPA at https://launchpad.net/~suntong001/+archive/ubuntu/ppa
• There's also an on-going collaborate effort to modernize shc and overcome its security flaw at https://github.com/NextSHC