Package naming vs. versioning

[Grant Bowman <grantbow@svpal.org>]

Hello,

I have seen packages change their package names to include a version 
number.  Reading the policy, there is little guidance on this subject.
It would seem that's what Epochs are designed for.  However I am aware
there could be reasons for wanting to change the package name.  One 
reason might be wanting to run multiple versions concurrently like the 
libdb or kernel-image packages.  Autoconf only renames the older 
version which seems proper.  Another reason might be that a previous 
packager is AWOL.

The trouble with changing the package name is lack of clarity.  The
same software is under different names, perhaps in different 
distributions like woody vs. potato.  It just seems wrong to me in a 
general case for a standard package to use a version in the package
name.  What is the "right" way to handle this?

Thanks in advance,

--
-- Grant Bowman                                   <grantbow@svpal.org>