Re: Policy query

[csmall@enc.com.au (Craig Small)]

On Mon, Aug 25, 2003 at 08:55:53PM +0100, Roger Leigh wrote:
> Lintian gives me this error:
> 
> E: cupsys-driver-gimpprint: depends-on-essential-package-without-using-version gzip
> N:
> N:   The package declares a depends on an essential package i.e. dpkg
> N:   without using a versioned depends. In general a package should not
> N:   depend on essential packages but if it must do so, the depends should
> N:   have a version string.
> N:
> N:   Refer to Policy Manual, section 2.3.4 for details.
> N:

It's worded badly.

What linitian is trying to say is that you are depending on an
essential package (in this case gzip).  In most cases this is unecessary
as all packages can assume essential packages are installed.

The only reason why you would specify an essential package is if you
require a specific version or versions of an essential package.  In that
case you would obviously need a version string.

The problem with the lintian message is the emphasis is on the version
string, rather than why have it depend on gzip in the first place.

  - Craig
-- 
Craig Small      GnuPG:1C1B D893 1418 2AF4 45EE  95CB C76C E5AC 12CA DFA5
Eye-Net Consulting http://www.enc.com.au/   MIEE         Debian developer
csmall at : enc.com.au                      ieee.org           debian.org