Bug#448284: RFH: dctrl-tools -- Command-line tools to process Debian package information

[Antti-Juhani Kaijanaho <ajk@debian.org>]

Package: wnpp
Severity: normal

I request assistance with maintaining the dctrl-tools package.

There are several tasks that could use more manpower (in no particular
order):

  1. Writing test cases 

     One could mine the BTS for past bug reports and create regression
     tests for them.

     One could use standard black-box and white-box testing techniques
     to generate general tests.

  2. Writing documentation

     The whole suite of tools could use a unified tutorial manual on
     how to best use it.  The current documentation is reference
     material in the man pages.

  3. Internationalise the man pages

     Use po4a?

  3. Swatting the BTS wishlist entries

     I've kept the BTS clean of actual bugs pretty well, but there are a
     number of wishlist reports still outstanding.

  4. Take over maintaining the debian/ directory

     If you commit to maintaining it (and I trust your judgment),
     you'll get last say in that part of the package (including deciding
     what helper to use).

  4. Whatever you wish :)

     Discuss on the dctrl-tools-devel mailing list first though.
     
Eventually I'd like to pass the package on to competent successors, but
I have too much emotional attachment to the package to do that without a
transitional period where I still retain a veto on what goes in the
package.  I also have some ideas for future tools that I'd like to be
able to concentrate on, and having co-maintainers might allow that.

The package is now under Git in collab-maint.  See 
  http://git.debian.org/?p=collab-maint/dctrl-tools.git;a=blob_plain;f=debian/README;hb=HEAD
for information and a push-access code of conduct.

The package description is:
 Debian package information is generally stored in files having a
 special file format, dubbed the Debian control file format (the dctrl
 format), a special case of the record jar file format.  These tools
 operate on any files conforming in a general sense to that format and
 are therefore widely applicable whenever those formats are in play.
 .
 Included are:
 .
   grep-dctrl     - Grep dctrl-format files
   grep-available - Grep the DPKG available database
   grep-status    - Grep the DPKG status database
   grep-aptavail  - Grep the APT available database
 .
   sort-dctrl     - Sort dctrl-format files
 .
   tbl-dctrl      - Tabulate dctrl-format files
 .
   sync-available - Sync the dpkg available database with
                    the apt database

-- System Information:
Debian Release: lenny/sid
  APT prefers unstable
  APT policy: (500, 'unstable'), (500, 'testing'), (1, 'experimental')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)

Kernel: Linux 2.6.23.1-ibid (SMP w/2 CPU cores; PREEMPT)
Locale: LANG=fi_FI.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=fi_FI.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/bash