Bug#17621: PROPOSED]: About versions based on dates

[Martin Mitchell <martin@debian.org>]

Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@datasync.com> writes:

> 2.1. Change
> -----------
> 
>      In general, Debian packages should use the same version numbers as the
>      upstream sources. 
> 
>      However, in some cases where the upstream version number is based on a
>      date (e.g., a development `snapshot' release) dpkg cannot handle these
>      version numbers currently, without epochs. For example, dpkg will
>      consider `96May01' to be greater than `96Dec24'. 
> 
>      To prevent having to use epochs for every new upstream version, the
>      version number should be changed to the following format in such
>      cases: `1996-05-01', `1996-12-24'. It is up to the maintainer whether
>      he/she wants to bother the upstream maintainer to change the version
>      numbers upstream, too. 
> 
>      Note, that other version formats based on dates which are parsed
>      correctly by dpkg should _NOT_ be changed. 
> 
>      Native Debian packages (i.e., packages which have been written
>      especially for Debian) whose version numbers include dates should
>      always use the `YYYY-MM-DD' format. 
> 
>      I am now looking for seconds for this proposal.

I support this, and second the proposal.

	Martin.