On Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:17:26 -0500 "Kurt B. Kaiser" <kbk@shore.net> wrote: > > In some ways, the Ubuntu changes become a bit like an NMU and you need > > to acknowledge any changes that you integrate into the Debian package. > > Yes, I saw a 'Patch from ubuntu' against my package 'flexbackup' (it > didn't come in as a bug, but it's on the package tracking overview in > the 'Patches' section. > > http://packages.qa.debian.org/f/flexbackup.html That patch appears to add significant functionality to the package - you should at least consider this as a wishlist bug, tagged as + patch and deal with it appropriately. If you feel you would like more information on how this functionality is useful within Ubuntu, open a wishlist bug yourself and CC: the Ubuntu maintainer mentioned in the changelog in the patch. I'd expect that he (Michael Bienia) would be only to happy to discuss the patch. > It seemed to me that one resolution would be to treat it just like an > NMU and include the ubuntu changelog entries in my changelog, topped > with an entry acking the patch and making the upload. Yes, if the new functionality is something you feel confident to implement and support within Debian, this would be, IMHO, an appropriate method to handle the patch. > OTOH, maybe it would be better not to include the ubuntu changelog > entries (since they don't conform to Debian practice regarding > distribution) and just summarize the changes with an ack in my changelog > entry. Changelog entries - yes those can be "reformatted" - it would be polite, I think, to include the main text of each log entry along with the details of who and when in a changelog entry of your own in debian/changelog. This way you can acknowledge and thank the Ubuntu maintainer for his patch. > What would be the offical pronouncement on this? It sounds like there isn't an official position on this, it's left to individual maintainers to judge the appropriateness of the Ubuntu changes and decide whether or not to pass on any new functionality to Debian. If this is done, then it is only polite to acknowledge the source of the patch. Also, consider dropping a line to upstream - if this functionality is not already documented in the upstream code - so that everyone else can benefit. There's no reason for such actions to be limited to Ubuntu either - if you become aware that Fedora or Mandriva implement the same upstream source with added or less buggy support for X feature, it's only sensible to bring those changes into Debian as well as ensuring that upstream know about the changes and are given a chance to support them upstream. -- Neil Williams ============= http://www.data-freedom.org/ http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/ http://www.linux.codehelp.co.uk/
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