Re: Questions about library names

[sharkey@superk.physics.sunysb.edu]

> OK, let's say now that the current is increased, and the new name of the
> library is libgpgme.so.1.0.0. This means that I should change in the
> debian/control file the name of the package and it will become libgpgme1
> but, what happens with the old package (libgpgme0) and with the programs
> compiled against it?

Nothing happens to the old package.

When a new shared library comes out that is incompatible with an old
shared library, both libraries should be installed, this is why the
soname is in the package name.   It allows simultaneous installation of
libgpgme0 and libgpgme1.  By having both packages, third party programs
compiled and linked angainst either version will run fine.

Eric