Re: libdb4 package
On Wed, Oct 30, 2002 at 11:25:44PM -0500, Steven Curtis wrote:
> I have a question regarding the absence of a libdb4 package for Debian
> GNU/Hurd. There are several packages that rely directly or indirectly on
> the existence of libdb4. I downloaded the source, and it compiled cleanly.
You already got a bunch of answers, all of them correct. I just want to
make a general statement about this: If a binary package is not in Debian
GNU/Hurd, but it should be, then there are several reasons why this could
be:
* Nobody ever tried to build it! This is usually because of complex build
dependencies, or recent additions.
* It does not build because of bugs in the upstream source. This is what
you found out _not_ to be the case for db4.
* It does not build because of bugs in the Debian packaging. This could be:
+ Patches that are applied to the upstream source that make it fail.
+ debian/* files that don't work correctly on the Hurd.
+ debian/control contains improper architecture or build dependency
information.
* The package existed before, but then vanished. Sometimes files are
removed from the Debian archive, in many cases I don't know why. I think
some are deleted to fix a certain problem in the unstable distribution (like
a complex upgrade situation).
Bottom line: Always try the Debian source to investigate Debian GNU/Hurd
issues. Use apt-get source and dpkg-buildpackage (or apt-get source with -b).
Thanks,
Marcus
--
`Rhubarb is no Egyptian god.' GNU http://www.gnu.org marcus@gnu.org
Marcus Brinkmann The Hurd http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/
Marcus.Brinkmann@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
http://www.marcus-brinkmann.de/
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