Re: Outrageous Maintainer

[Anthony DeRobertis <anthony@derobert.net>]

Klaus Ethgen wrote:

> The according bug is #306608.

It looks like the issue there (trying to quickly read through it) is if
package libwxgtk2.4-python nedds to declare a Conflicts: with package
wxpython2.5.3. The reason being that both provide a /usr/bin/helpviewer.

First off, this is a tad bit weird; wxpython2.5.3 declares a
Replaces: libwxgtk2.4-python. Maybe because of the order of installation
dpkg is ignoring this.

However, Policy 10.1 gives two ways to handle programs with the same
file name and the same functionality. [Same name, different
functionality, is not allowed at all.] Either alternatives or conflicts
may be used.

This is a bug, though possibly not in the libwxgtk2.4-python package. If
the relevant maintainers (libwxgtk2.4-python, wxpython2.5.3) and bug
sumitters can't work out a solution, then ask the Technical Comittee to
do so. That's what they're there for.