CEP: Standardize Lock File Format

[travishathaway]

To facilitate cross tool compatibility (e.g. conda, mamba, and pixi), we should standardize a lock file format so that all tools are able to read and write the same lock files.

Currently, there are two options:

• conda-lock
• rattler-lock

The latter lock file type has seen more recent development, and made several improvements over what was initially developed by conda-lock; therefore, it would make a better choice to use as the model for standardization.

The CEP to be written shall include a precise description of how the lock file is to be formatted and include a reference link to the current implementation in rattler-lock.

[jaimergp]

xref #79

[travishathaway]

Also: #81

[h-vetinari]

Tangentially related: PEP 751, where a multi-year discussion is now winding down towards a possible conclusion.

[travishathaway]

@h-vetinari,

Thanks for linking to that. I will be carefully reading that proposal and learn more about the ongoing discussions.

[jaimergp]

Hm, I thought the Python lockfiles were not going to make it in the end? Source: https://bsky.app/profile/snarky.ca/post/3ldp5zvst4c2v

[h-vetinari]

It got trimmed down because people (still) couldn't agree on much of the semantics. But the discussion has lots of material on this subject.