Re: Bug#662736: ITP: maxwell -- entropy-gathering daemon

[Martin Eberhard Schauer <Martin.E.Schauer@gmx.de>]

> Package: wnpp
> Followup-For: Bug #662736
> Owner: "Pedro I. Sanchez"<psanchez@fosstel.com>
>
> Package: wnpp
> Followup-For: Bug #662736
> Owner: "Pedro I. Sanchez"<psanchez@fosstel.com>
>
> Package: wnpp
> Followup-For: Bug #662736
> Owner: "Pedro I. Sanchez"<psanchez@fosstel.com>
>
> Package: wnpp
> Severity: wishlist
>    
Hi Pedro,

if I understand things right, you missed a CC to

|  control@bugs.debian.org

and a separate line

   thanks

to make your control commands become effictive.
|
> * Package name         : maxwell
>    Version              : 1.2-1
>    Upstream Author      : Sandy Harris<sandyinchina@gmail.com>
> * URL                  : ftp://ftp.cs.sjtu.edu.cn:990/sandy/maxwell/
> * License              : GPL v2
>    Programming Language : C
> * Description          : entropy-gathering daemon
>
> Daemon to gather entropy from a timer and feed it to random(4).
>
> maxwell collects randomness from the small variations in a system
> timer, distills it into a concentrated form, and sends it to random (4).
>
> The amount of output varies with the parameters chosen, but is
> generally a few K bits per second. The quality is intended to be very high.
> Both volume and quality should be adequate for most applications.
>
> There are a number of other ways to feed entropy to random (4).
> The advantage of maxwell is that it is small, simple and only minimally
> hardware-dependent. The other methods also have advantages, and in many
> cases one of them will be preferable to this one.
>    
Please consider an informal review of the package description on
debian-l10n-english as well.

To me the first paragraph is an incomplete sentence and its
information is contained in the second as well. How about

    The maxwell daemon collects randomness from the small variations in a
    system timer, distills it into a concentrated form, and sends it to
    random(4).

And most of the last two paragraphs seems vague and trivial.

    Both volume and quality should be adequate for most applications.

A typical use case would help.

    The other methods also have advantages, and in many cases one of
    them will be preferable to this one.

The advantages are trivial. The alternate methods are not mentioned.
What are the criteria?

And perhaps some words on "why the name" would not hurt. Some people
primarly think of electromagnetic fields when they hear/read "Maxwell".

BTW: I strongly suggest s/random (4)/random(4)/ and appreciate the
hint to the manual page.


Martin