.cabal files should be stored next to tarballs, potentially overriding in-tarball version

[claus]

.cabal files are *the* description of cabal packages, yet cabal/hackage hide them inside the package tarballs. For easy access, I would like the local package cache to store a copy of the .cabal file right next to the tarball. Changes in the out-of-package .cabal should override the original, in-package .cabal, allowing bug-fixing/adaptation to local packaging issues.

[duncan]

We have discussed a similar idea that the .cabal file from the hackage index should override the one in the package itself, thus allowing the .cabal file to be patched after the tarball is released.

[kosmikus]

I think this should mainly be considered in connection with Hackage.