Bug#543417: README.source patch system documentation requirements considered harmful
Hi,
Chris Lamb wrote:
> Basically, I feel that assuming that all packages that use a patch system
> require a README.source is damaging the concept of README.source
Seconded.
On Monday 24 August 2009 17:46:25 Russ Allbery wrote:
[...]
>
> I'm increasingly inclined to agree with this, but I'd like to specifically
> spell out what the exceptions are. I think the important exception would
> be that packages that use quilt or dpatch in the default mode, applying
> all patches in debian/patches/series debian/patches/00list before the
> build and removing them on clean, aren't required to have a README.source.
Some exceptions are indeed required, but like Andrew already said it should be
done with care. Some wording more generic than just "standard quilt and
dpatch using lists of patches". I think everyone is used to dpatch and quilt
with lists of patches in debian/patches/{series,00list} and cdbs' simple
patch system, but anything else like dpatch with a lists of patches hardcoded
in the rules file should at least point that out.
I've seen one package using dpatch which was NMUed twice by two different
people whose patches never got applied because they didn't add them to the
patches list hardcoded in the rules file.
Cheers,
--
Raphael Geissert - Debian Developer
www.debian.org - get.debian.net
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