Bug#694384: Clarify what first paragraph is in presence of blank lines

[Jonathan Nieder <jrnieder@gmail.com>]

Hi Michael,

Michael Tautschnig wrote:

> At present, 213 packages fail to build using pbuilder, because they contain a
> debian/control file starting with comment lines, then a blank line, then the
> actual contents. This is caused by gnome-pkg-tools, as described in further
> detail in #684503.
[...]
> Note that, however, apparently only pbuilder enforces such a strict
> interpretation. Other tools, including dpkg and lintian, appear to interpret the
> "first paragraph" as the "first non-empty paragraph."

Sounds like both gnome-pkg-tools and pbuilder should be fixed.

Perhaps it would be possible to word policy to indicate that tools
producing debian/control files should not make an initial empty
paragraph, while tools consuming debian/control must consume one.

Thanks and hope that helps,
Jonathan