[MacPorts] #67016: Advice needed: how to write a port when a non-default variant of a dependency is required?

[MacPorts]

#67016: Advice needed: how to write a port when a non-default variant of a
dependency is required?
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  Reporter:  barracuda156  |      Owner:  (none)
      Type:  defect        |     Status:  new
  Priority:  Normal        |  Milestone:
 Component:  ports         |    Version:  2.8.1
Resolution:                |   Keywords:
      Port:                |
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Comment (by ryandesign):

 There isn't a way to write such a Portfile. This is why the use of
 variants for features that other ports might depend on is discouraged.

 The usual answer in these cases would be that either R should include
 tcltk support by default or rather unconditionally without a variant, or
 the tcltk components of the R port should be split off into a separate
 port upon which a dependency can then be declared (if they are in fact
 separate components).

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.macports.org/ticket/67016#comment:1>
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