(This is an updated version of the short message posted earlier to -project, re-sent to d-d-a as suggested by Zack.) In August 2007, Sam Hocevar created the CopyrightFormat[0,1] wiki page to create a machine-readable format for debian/copyright files. Earlier this month, about three and a half years and a long, meandering route later, the spec is considered ready for release. Along the way it got turned from a wiki page into a Debian Enhancement Proposal, number 5[2,3]. [0] http://wiki.debian.org/Proposals/CopyrightFormat [1] http://wiki.debian.org/Proposals/CopyrightFormat?action=recall&rev=1 [2] http://dep.debian.net/deps/dep5/ [3] http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/dep/web/deps/dep5.mdwn?rev=153&sc=0 A few days ago, acting as a driver for DEP5, changed the status of the specification to CANDIDATE, from DRAFT. This means it is ready for use, and that no great changes are expected anymore. Quite a number of people have used quite a number of different versions of the spec over the years. All those earlier versions should be forgotten and files updated to the new version. However, as we are in the middle of a freeze, it would be prudent to wait until squeeze is released. If you haven't followed the development of the spec at all, here is a summary: * its use is entirely optional * it does not require any more detail than free-form files * it uses the pseudo-RFC822 format familiar from debian/control * some tools are being developed to check or generate the files If you are interested, please give the spec a quick read. If you find any real problems, it is not too late to get them fixed. If you have written, are writing, or would be interested in writing tools to read or write DEP5 files, please follow the latest spec. Getting the tools ready before squeeze's release would be great, since then we're all ready to start new development. For example, the lintian check should be updated. The wiki page[0] has a list of known implementations, some more ready than others. There is work[4] going on to integrate the spec with the policy package. Once that happens, the canonical URL for the spec will change; this will be announced separately, when DEP5 moves to ACCEPTED status. [4] http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=609160
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