Bug#553420: debian-policy: Please clarify what is the interface for building binary packages.
Package: debian-policy
Version: 3.8.3.0
Severity: normal
Dear Policy delegates,
there is currently a discussion on debian-devel@lists.debian.org with a strong
disagreement on what the Policy specifies for building binary packages, and
what it should specify.
http://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/4AE85D08.1050809@e-tobi.net
(I can prepare a summary if there is interest for this).
In a first step, I think that it would be very helpful to clarify what is the
build interface as of Policy 3.8.3. Currently the Policy specifies what the
debian/rules file is, gives a special role to dpkg-buildpackage, and the build
interface is extrapolated with conflicting interpretation among the developers.
In a second step, I propose to go forward and open the possibility of an
evolution of the constraints on the format of the debian/rules file, according
to the consensus on what the build interface should be (which can be different
from what it is as of version 3.8.3). This part is not independant from the
discussion whether debian/rules should be callable interactively with no
special environment variable set, or if dpkg-buildpackage should be the
canonical tool for this usage.
Have a nice week-end,
--
Charles Plessy,
Tsurumi, Kanagawa, Japan.
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