Bug#668394: debian-policy: Spurious virtual packages "mp3-encoder"/"mp3-decoder"

[Bill Allombert <Bill.Allombert@math.u-bordeaux1.fr>]

On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 05:16:19PM +0200, Fabian Greffrath wrote:
> Package: debian-policy
> Severity: minor
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I just stumbled upon the official list [1] of virtual packages in Debian and
> was surprised by the presence of one called "mp3-encoder". This virtual package
> seems to be provided by only one real package, "opencubicplayer", and I doubt
> that this is actually a real mp3-encoder. On the other hand, the only
> mp3-encoder that we actually have in Debian since a long time is "lame" and
> this package does not even provide the virtual "mp3-encoder" package.
> 
> So there is something wrong either way. Since this seems not to have attracted
> anyone's attention before, I suggest to simply remove the virtual package
> "mp3-encoders" from this list. Packages should probably better directly depend
> on "lame" instead.
> 
> The virtual package "mp3-decoder" should also be re-considered. While it is
> already provided by a handful of packages (mpg123, mpg321, vlc[-nox] and said
> opencubicplayer), it is obviously ignored by the majority of media players in
> Debian and noone seems to object.

Hello,

It would certainly be useful to know why it was added in the first place. 
The relevant bug reports are #64004, #64006 and #295006.

Cheers,
-- 
Bill. <ballombe@debian.org>

Imagine a large red swirl here.