Please let me know if there is a better Debian mailing list to discuss this. I've been involved in a discussion on debian-mentors on this topic[1] that was ultimately inconclusive. I am wondering if there are guidelines for what gets included in Debian other than what is required by the DFSG. The FAQ says only:[2] > Although Debian includes only free software, we do not include all the > free software in the whole world. (Although we do include so much that > one can understand people thinking we include it all.) What software we > choose to distribute is Debian's own decision, and no one else's. In > particular, we are not obligated to distribute FOO. I understand that if I am not a Debian Developer, and can't find anyone to sponsor a package I want in Debian, then there's no right to demand it be included. But what if I find a sponsor, or I am a Debian Developer (which hopefully will happen soon[3]) willing to maintain the package myself? What does it mean for it to be "Debian's own decision" whether to distribute a particular package? I'm particularly interested in the case where someone argues that a package is redundant (someone suggested this with my ITP for salonify[4]), or "too simple" (as someone argued in the discussion on debian-mentors[5])? I'm not looking to stir up trouble here, just wondering if there are semi-objective criteria out there that I've missed for how these disputes are resolved. -- Adam Kessel http://bostoncoop.net/adam [1] http://lists.debian.org/debian-mentors/2003/debian-mentors-200309/msg00067.html [2] http://people.debian.org/~bap/dfsg-faq.html [3] http://nm.debian.org/nmstatus.php?email=adam%40bostoncoop.net [4] http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2003/debian-devel-200307/msg01373.html [5] http://lists.debian.org/debian-mentors/2003/debian-mentors-200309/msg00079.html
Attachment:
pgp3KxLKICCEH.pgp
Description: PGP signature