Re: Clarify rationale for ‘debian/rules’ shebang line
- To: debian-policy@lists.debian.org
- Cc: debian-devel@lists.debian.org
- Subject: Re: Clarify rationale for ‘debian/rules’ shebang line
- From: Ben Finney <ben+debian@benfinney.id.au>
- Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:12:33 +1100
- Message-id: <[🔎] 87eiokxt6m.fsf@benfinney.id.au>
- References: <4AE97060.4030404@e-tobi.net> <87ws2e6pfe.fsf@delenn.ganneff.de> <slrnhejp1j.888.trash@kelgar.0x539.de> <877huexar7.fsf@anzu.internal.golden-gryphon.com> <slrnhejsgq.bik.trash@kelgar.0x539.de> <4AE9FF8C.6060301@e-tobi.net> <87y6mtx4eh.fsf@anzu.internal.golden-gryphon.com> <4AEA327D.7040101@e-tobi.net> <871vkl8jv4.fsf@inara.kivimaa.fi> <4AEAB801.3020606@e-tobi.net> <20091030101540.GC51880@l04.local> <4AEADD81.4020608@e-tobi.net> <87my39c8wq.fsf@anzu.internal.golden-gryphon.com> <[🔎] 87iqdwxtm1.fsf_-_@benfinney.id.au>
Ben Finney <ben+debian@benfinney.id.au> writes:
> Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> writes:
>
> > I think it would be a good idea to _add_ to policy a rule that
> > says that "make -f debian/rules" and "./debian/rules" must behave
> > identically, to prevent confusion, and to promote reproducibility, and
> > conform to the principle of least surprise.
>
> Rather than a new rule, I submit this patch to clarify the existing rule
> for the shebang line.
I was sloppy in my use of normative language; this is a “must” directive.
=== modified file 'policy.sgml'
--- policy.sgml 2009-10-21 20:49:37 +0000
+++ policy.sgml 2009-10-31 01:10:42 +0000
@@ -1725,7 +1725,10 @@
<p>
It must start with the line <tt>#!/usr/bin/make -f</tt>,
so that it can be invoked by saying its name rather than
- invoking <prgn>make</prgn> explicitly.
+ invoking <prgn>make</prgn> explicitly. That is, invoking
+ either of <tt>make -f debian/rules <em>args...</em></tt>
+ or <tt>./debian/rules <em>args...</em></tt> must cause
+ identical behaviour in each case.
</p>
<p>
--
\ “We can't depend for the long run on distinguishing one |
`\ bitstream from another in order to figure out which rules |
_o__) apply.” —Eben Moglen, _Anarchism Triumphant_, 1999 |
Ben Finney
Reply to: