Bug#576083: lintian: debhelper-overrides-need-versioned-build-depends (>= 7.0.50~)

[Jari Aalto <jari.aalto@cante.net>]

Russ Allbery <rra@debian.org> writes:
>> The debhelper is already in version of 7.4.15 in Debian/testing, so
>> perhaps the message could be relaxed to a nearest "round" number:
>
>> 	debhelper-overrides-need-versioned-build-depends (>= 7.1)
>
> That doesn't make any sense to me.  Why would we replace a tag which is
> accurate with one that isn't?  Why is an incorrect dependency on >= 7.1
> more descriptive to the reader than a correct dependency on >= 7.0.50~?

I was more thinking how this message may affect potential readers.
Reading the "accurate" lintian message, user may think:

    "Okay I write this to shut up lintian":

    Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 7.0.50~)

Where a better[1] and practical alternative would have been:

    Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 7.1)

...because Debheler is in 7.4.x in testing, so it's unlikely that the
version 7.0.50~ is ever used.

Jari

[1] (In readable sense; it's short, no funny characters, no long version
string to ponder about.