common source package for use in Debian and Ubuntu

[Joachim Wiedorn <ad_debian@joonet.de>]

Hello!

as suggested in this bug report for "lilo":
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=602824
and introduced with:
http://raphaelhertzog.com/2010/11/05/managing-distribution-specific-patches-with-a-common-source-package/
I want to realize the idea of a debian directory usable for Debian *and*
Ubuntu. It works with a switch in the clean target of debian/rules:


%:
	dh $@

override_dh_clean:
	dh_clean
ifeq ($(shell dpkg-vendor --is Ubuntu && echo yes),yes)
	@echo modify changelog and control file for vendor Ubuntu:
	cat debian/control.Ubuntu >debian/control
	cat debian/changelog.Ubuntu debian/changelog.base >debian/changelog
else
	@echo modify changelog and control file for vendor Debian:
	cat debian/control.Debian >debian/control
	cat debian/changelog.Debian debian/changelog.base >debian/changelog
endif



Now my questions:

1. is this a good way for switching contol file? 
   It must switch the maintainer lines because Ubuntu has another policy.

2. this way is not the best for the changelog file because every change
   in debian/changelog must copied into the both other changelogs. 
   Does anyone know a better way ?

4. Can I let all Ubuntu changelog parts (beside the very last) inside 
   the changelog of Debian? Then changelog.Debian would be unnecessary.


---
Have a nice day.

Joachim (Germany)