Debian Project News - November 3rd, 2008
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Debian Project News
http://www.debian.org/News/project/2008/14/
Debian Project News - November 3rd, 2008
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Welcome to this year's 14th issue of DPN, the newsletter for the Debian
community.
Some of the topics covered in this issue include:
* Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 updated
* Debian membership
* First Lenny Bug Sprint finished successfully
Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 updated
The Debian project is pleased to announce the fifth update of its
stable distribution Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 (codename "Etch"). This update
mainly corrects security problems in the stable release, along with a
few adjustments to serious problems. Those who frequently install
updates from security.debian.org won't have to update many packages and
most updates from security.debian.org are included in this update. New
CD and DVD images containing updated packages are available at the
regular locations.
Upgrading to this revision online is usually done by pointing the
aptitude (or apt-get) package tool (see the sources.list(5) manual
page) to one of Debian's many FTP or HTTP mirrors. A comprehensive list
of mirrors is available [1]online.
1: http://www.debian.org/mirror/list
More information is available in the [2]press release.
2: http://www.debian.org/News/2008/20081023
Debian membership
After talking to several of the groups involved, Joerg Jaspert
[3]proposed changes in the way Debian membership is handled. The
motivation for these changes is to make it possible for people who
contribute to Debian without maintaining packages (such as translators
or documentation writers) to become members of the project. He later
[4]wrote some comments additional to his proposal. However due to the
scope of the envisioned changes, several developers proposed to
[5]stop these changes until they have been decided upon via a general
resolution, while Peter Palfrader [6]asked to be allowed to continue
trying to solve this problem.
3: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2008/10/msg00005.html
4: http://blog.ganneff.de/blog/2008/10/24/developer-status.html
5: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2008/10/msg00193.html
6: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2008/10/msg00266.html
Lars Wirzenius and others would like to see the whole [7]membership
system rethought, not only the process by which membership is granted.
Lars proposed that membership must be periodically renewed, while
"People should be allowed to join Debian when there is reasonably
widespread consensus that they agree with the project's goals, are
committed to working on those goals, and are trustworthy."
7: http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2008/10/msg00145.html
Martin Krafft [8]argued that instead of introducing different classes
of membership Debian should instead define different privileges and
criteria for how to obtain them. Since these privileges already exist
it would be easier to define the criteria instead of mapping the
privileges to classes.
8: http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2008/10/msg00061.html
First Lenny Bug Sprint finished successfully
To help clean up release critical bug reports, especially longstanding
ones, Josselin Mouette [9]initiated the first Bug Sprint. In this
competition, Debian Developers and other interested people volunteered
to try to fix their assigned release-critical bugs in a five day
period. The winners in this competition would get cookies.
9: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2008/10/msg00004.html
Josselin later added that 27 players [10]joined the bug sprint and
posted [11]the results. (He already sent a more detailed [12]draft
ealier). All in all, he was very satisfied with the results. Stefano
Zacchiroli [13]proposed repeating this kind of event.
10: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00636.html
11: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/11/msg00046.html
12: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00875.html
13: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00887.html
Firmware in Lenny and how to deal with DFSG-violating packages
Ben Finney [14]wondered about several release-critical bugs getting the
lenny-ignore tag, which specifies that these bugs are not considered
release critical for the upcoming release of Debian GNU/Linux 5.0
"Lenny". Release Manager Marc Brockschmidt [15]explained that "In all
of the bugs I recently tagged, the DFSG violation is usually a formal
problem, something that other distributions and upstream don't consider
a problem at all. While fixing these issues is and should be a goal of
Debian, it's hardly something that can be done in the last few weeks
before releasing. The drawbacks of delaying the release indefinitely
for these bugs are much greater than releasing with these minor DFSG
violations."
14: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00368.html
15: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00369.html
In the following discussion, Robert Millan [16]proposed a general
resolution on how to deal with packages violating the [17]Debian Free
Software Guidelines. In his proposal, packages having a bug report open
regarding their compliance with the Debian Free Software Guidelines for
a certain amount of time must be moved from the main section to the
non-free section. In his response to Robert's initial [18]proposal,
Release Wizard Steve Langasek [19]argued that Debian has been following
the road of incremental improvement. He notes that all bugs reported
regarding non-free firmware for older releases have been dealt with.
16: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2008/10/msg00107.html
17: http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines
18: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2008/10/msg00010.html
19: http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2008/10/msg00128.html
State of NEW queue
Aurelien Jarno [20]wondered whether the NEW queue (where uploaded
source packages creating new binary packages are held back awaiting the
check and approval of an ftp-master) is currently being processed.
Joerg Jaspert [21]answered that the NEW queue has indeed not been
processed very often recently. He explained further that changes in the
software used to process this queue give precedence to packages that
only add new binary components, as distinct from packages that add
completely new code to the archive.
20: http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2008/10/msg00071.html
21: http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2008/10/msg00180.html
Changes to archive.debian.org
Joerg Jaspert [22]announced several changes for archive.debian.org, the
most important being that Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 "Sarge" has been moved
from the regular mirrors to archive.debian.org. [23]For the convenience
of our mirror network, the deletion is being performed in several
chunks, avoiding problems with mirrors refusing to delete too many
files at once. He later [24]highlighted that the unofficial port of
Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 "Sarge" to the AMD64 architecture has been moved
there, too.
22: http://blog.ganneff.de/blog/2008/10/26/archiving-sarge-aka-oldstable.html
23: http://lists.debian.org/debian-mirrors-announce/2008/11/msg00000.html
23: http://blog.ganneff.de/blog/2008/11/02/archivedebianorg-old-bugs-and.html
Other changes are the availability of binary packages for Debian
GNU/Linux 1.2 "Rex", 1.1 "Buzz" and 0.93R6. An archive for packages
from [25]volatile.debian.org, [26]security.debian.org and
[27]www.backports.org is now also available at archive.debian.org.
25: http://www.debian.org/volatile/
26: http://www.debian.org/security/
27: http://www.backports.org
During work on this, old mail archives from 1995, which had been lost,
were found again as well as old bug reports ranging from bug #350 to
#1750. These will soon be added back to the appropriate archives.
BTS link in need of new maintainer
Pierre Habouzit [28]announced that he won't be able to maintain and run
the BTS link service any more. This service is used to track activity
in upstream bug tracking systems and update the corresponding bug
reports in Debian's BTS in a semi-automated way. Currently this service
needs to be run manually. Don Armstrong, one of the maintainers of
Debian's BTS, [29]highlighted the importance of the bts-link service,
but won't be able to maintain it himself. Christoph Berg [30]suggested
maintainership under the mantle of Debian's Quality Assurance group if
someone would volunteer to act as the main responsible maintainer.
28: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2008/10/msg00006.html
29: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00860.html
30: http://lists.debian.org/debian-qa/2008/10/msg00066.html
New Developers
Since the previous issue of the Debian Project News, 2 applicants have
been accepted as Debian Maintainers.
Please welcome Mehdi Dogguy and Olly Betts to our project!
Important Debian Security Advisories
Debian's Security Team recently released advisories for these packages
(among others): [31]linux-2.6.24, [32]cupsys, [33]qemu, [34]dbus,
[35]clamav and [36]openoffice.org. Please read them carefully and take
the proper measures.
31: http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1655
32: http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1656
33: http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1657
34: http://www.debian.org/security/2008/das-1658
35: http://www.debian.org/security/2008/das-1660
36: http://www.debian.org/security/2008/das-1661
Please note that these are a selection of the more important security
advisories of the last two weeks. If you need to be kept up to date
about security advisories released by the Debian Security Team, please
subscribe to the [37]security mailing list for announcements.
37: http://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/
New and noteworthy packages
The following packages were added to the unstable Debian archive
recently ([38]among others):
* [39]a56 -- Motorola DSP56001 assembler
* [40]antlr-gcj -- language tool for constructing recognizers,
compilers etc
* [41]apgdiff -- Another PostgreSQL Diff Tool
* [42]apt-dater -- terminal-based remote package update manager
* [43]apt-dater-host -- host helper application for apt-dater
* [44]avr-evtd -- AVR watchdog daemon for Linkstation/Kuroboxes
* [45]automysqlbackup -- a daily, weekly and monthly backup for your
MySQL database
* [46]ballz -- B.A.L.L.Z. - platform/puzzle game where you control a
rolling ball
* [47]ballz-data -- B.A.L.L.Z. - game data
* [48]barry-util -- Command line utilities for working with the RIM
BlackBerry Handheld
* [49]barrybackup-gui -- GTK+ based GUI for backing up the RIM
BlackBerry Handheld
* [50]batman-adv-battool -- B.A.T.M.A.N.-advanced network debugging
tools
* [51]batv-filter -- Mail Filter (milter) for BATV
signing/verification
* [52]blocks-of-the-undead -- Tetris Attack clone with spooky
undertones
* [53]blocks-of-the-undead-data -- Tetris Attack clone with spooky
undertones - data files
* [54]bti -- command line micro-blogging tool
* [55]btnx -- daemon for rerouting mouse button events
* [56]btnx-config -- graphical user interface for btnx
* [57]buildtorrent -- command line torrent creation program
* [58]cciss-vol-status -- HP SmartArray RAID Volume Status Checker
* [59]cdde -- CD Detect & Execute utility
* [60]command-not-found -- Suggest installation of packages in
interactive bash sessions
* [61]dns323-firmware-tools -- build and manipulate firmware images
for the DNS-323
* [62]dwdiff -- font-end fof the diff program that operates word by
word
* [63]elfrc -- convert arbitrary files into elf objects
* [64]etoolbox -- Toolbox for LaTeX class and package authors
* [65]faketime -- report faked system time to programs
* [66]fbterm -- A fast framebuffer based terminal emulator for Linux
* [67]fwknop-client -- FireWall KNock OPerator client side
* [68]fwknop-server -- FireWall KNock OPerator server side
* [69]gedit-latex-plugin -- GEdit plugin for composing and compiling
LaTeX documents
* [70]git-cola -- highly caffeinated git gui
* [71]gracie -- OpenID server for local PAM accounts
* [72]guvcview -- GTK+ base UVC Viewer
* [73]jardiff -- tool to visualise API differences between two JAR
files
* [74]kiki-the-nano-bot -- a 3D puzzle game, mixing Sokoban and
Kula-World
* [75]ldap-account-manager-lamdaemon -- Quota and home directory
management for LDAP Account Manager
* [76]mono-vbnc -- Mono Visual Basic Compiler (VB.NET)
* [77]mozvoikko -- Finnish spell-checker extension for Iceweasel
* [78]mrpt-apps -- Mobile Robot Programming Toolkit - Console and GUI
applications
* [79]mz -- versatile packet creation and network traffic generation
tool
* [80]netplug -- network link monitor daemon
* [81]nvramtool -- Read/write coreboot-related NVRAM/CMOS information
* [82]onetime -- command-line encryption using the "one-time pad"
method
* [83]openyahtzee -- classic dice game of Yahtzee
* [84]pacpl -- a multi-purpose audio converter/ripper/tagger script
* [85]pgtap -- Unit testing framework for PostgreSQL
* [86]prayer-templates -- templates for customizing Prayer Webmail
* [87]python-cssutils -- CSS Cascading Style Sheets parser and
builder
* [88]python-feedvalidator -- library and tool for validating
syndication feeds
* [89]python-netaddr -- manipulation of various common network
address notations
* [90]python-netifaces -- portable network iface information for
Python
* [91]python-poppler -- Poppler Python bindings
* [92]python-soaplib -- Python library for writing and calling soap
web services
* [93]python-socksipy -- Python SOCKS client module
* [94]python-zebrapygtk -- scanning and decoding bar codes (PyGTK
bindings)
* [95]qorganizer -- featured lightweight graphical organizer
* [96]recoverdm -- recover files/disks with damaged sectors
* [97]replaceit -- A quick, light and effective text replacement
tool
* [98]rifiuti -- A MS Windows recycle bin analysis tool
* [99]rst2man -- tool to convert reST documents to Unix manual pages
* [100]rst2pdf -- ReportLab-based reStructuredText to PDF renderer
* [101]sdlbasic -- BASIC interpreter for game development
* [102]sdlbrt -- BASIC interpreter for game development - runtime
interpreter
* [103]simplyhtml -- Java word processor based on HTML and CSS
* [104]snimpy -- interactive SNMP tool with Python
* [105]sofa-apps -- GUI for the Simulation Open Framework
Architecture (SOFA)
* [106]sofa-tutorials -- Simulation Open Framework Architecture -
tutorials
* [107]sputnik -- Extensible wiki
* [108]sputnik-goodies -- Extra modules for the sputnik wiki
* [109]sqlline -- JDBC command-line utility for issuing SQL
* [110]switchsh -- bind-mount bash as /bin/sh
* [111]tint2 -- lightweight taskbar
* [112]twidge -- Unix Command-Line Twitter and Identica Client
* [113]unworkable -- efficient, simple and secure bittorrent client
* [114]vbackup -- A modular backup utility
* [115]virtaal -- graphical localisation editor
* [116]wicd -- wired and wireless network manager
* [117]wiipdf -- present a PDF file using your wiimote
* [118]xd -- smart directory change utility
* [119]zebra-tools -- scanning and decoding bar codes (utilities)
* [120]zope-maildrophost -- send mails from within Zope through a
mail queue
38: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/newpkg
39: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/a56
40: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/antlr-gcj
41: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/apgdiff
42: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/apt-dater
43: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/apt-dater-host
44: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/avr-evtd
45: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/automysqlbackup
46: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/ballz
47: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/ballz-data
48: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/barry-util
49: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/barrybackup-gui
50: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/batman-adv-battool
51: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/batv-filter
52: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/blocks-of-the-undead
53: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/blocks-of-the-undead-data
54: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/bti
55: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/btnx
56: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/btnx-config
57: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/buildtorrent
58: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/cciss-vol-status
59: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/cdde
60: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/command-not-found
61: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/dns323-firmware-tools
62: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/dwdiff
63: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/elfrc
64: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/etoolbox
65: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/faketime
66: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/fbterm
67: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/fwknop-client
68: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/fwknop-server
69: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/gedit-latex-plugin
70: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/git-cola
71: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/gracie
72: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/guvcview
73: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/jardiff
74: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/kiki-the-nano-bot
75: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/ldap-account-manager-lamdaemon
76: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/mono-vbnc
77: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/mozvoikko
78: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/mrpt-apps
79: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/mz
80: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/netplug
81: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/nvramtool
82: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/onetime
83: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/openyahtzee
84: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/pacpl
85: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/pgtap
86: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/prayer-templates
87: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-cssutils
88: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-feedvalidator
89: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-netaddr
90: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-netifaces
91: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-poppler
92: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-soaplib
93: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-socksipy
94: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/python-zebrapygtk
95: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/qorganizer
96: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/recoverdm
97: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/replaceit
98: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/rifiuti
99: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/rst2man
100: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/rst2pdf
101: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/sdlbasic
102: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/sdlbrt
103: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/simplyhtml
104: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/snimpy
105: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/sofa-apps
106: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/sofa-tutorials
107: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/sputnik
108: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/sputnik-goodies
109: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/sqlline
110: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/switchsh
111: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/tint2
112: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/twidge
113: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/unworkable
114: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/vbackup
115: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/virtaal
116: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/wicd
117: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/wiipdf
118: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/xd
119: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/zebra-tools
120: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/main/zope-maildrophost
Debian Package of the Day featured the packages [121]synfig (a free
software alternative for 2D animation) and [122]rdiff-backup (easy
incremental backups from the command line).
121: http://debaday.debian.net/2008/11/02/synfig-the-free-software-alternative-for-2d-animation/
122: http://debaday.debian.net/2008/10/26/rdiff-backup-easy-incremental-backups-from-the-command-line/
Work-needing packages
Currently 498 packages are orphaned and 118 packages are up for
adoption. Please take a look at the [123]recent [124]reports to see if
there are packages you are interested in or view the complete list of
[125]packages which need your help.
123: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00609.html
124: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/10/msg00869.html
125: http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/help_requested
Want to continue reading DPN?
Please help us create this newsletter. We still need more volunteer
writers to watch the Debian community and report about what is going
on. Please see the [126]contributing page to find out how to help.
We're looking forward to receiving your mail at
[127]debian-publicity@lists.debian.org.
126: http://wiki.debian.org/ProjectNews/HowToContribute
127: mailto:debian-publicity@lists.debian.org
This issue of Debian Project News was edited by Joerg Jaspert, Ben
Finney, Justin B. Rye and Alexander Reichle-Schmehl.
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