Bug#15946: PROPOSED] time stamps should be preserved

[Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk>]

Manoj Srivastava writes ("Bug#15946: [PROPOSED] time stamps should be preserved"):
...
> 1. time stamps should be preserved
> ----------------------------------
> 
>      This has been already presented to the list and had been accepted, but
>      Christian did not have time to actually edit the file. 
> 
>      Most of our packages `touch' files in the packaging process (that is,
>      the modification time of the files gets reset to the current time). It
>      would be nice if the modification time of the upstream source would be
>      preserved. 
> 
>      For example, you could recognize that some documentation is very old
>      by looking at the modification time. (Of course, this only works if
>      the upstream maintainer kept the original modification time.) 
> 
>      According to a recent discussion on debian-policy on this subject we
>      consider this topic as `nice-to-have', but without priority.
>      Maintainers are encouraged to keep the original time stamps, though. 
> 
>      I am now looking for seconds for this proposal.

Could you please clarify exactly what text you want to add to the
policy manual ?

I would be opposed to any change that would declare it a bug for a
package to change these timestamps.

Ian.