Bug#553420: debian-policy: Please clarify what is the interface for building binary packages.
Charles Plessy <plessy@debian.org> writes:
> 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.
This was one of two alternate proposals that came out of that discussion
concerning what interface is required for debian/rules. The other
proposal (require debian/rules to be a makefile) was adopted in Policy
3.8.4. I think that was an implicit choice of that approach over this
one, and reviewing the bug log, I don't think this proposal got consensus.
Accordingly, I'm marking this bug as rejected, but it will stay open for
some time in case anyone objects or disagrees with my interpretation.
--
Russ Allbery (rra@debian.org) <http://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/>
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