Bug#838777: Policy 11.8.4 for x-window-manager needs update for freedesktop menus

[Josh Triplett <josh@joshtriplett.org>]

On Sat, Sep 24, 2016 at 11:44:25AM -0700, Josh Triplett wrote:
> Package: debian-policy
> Severity: normal
> 
> Policy 11.8.4 documents how to set the priority for an x-window-manager
> alternative.  The algorithm for doing so increases the priority for
> window managers supporting the Debian menu system, but doesn't say
> anything about the freedesktop menu system.  (And, for that matter, the
> algorithm seems to treat a window manager as a "session"; Policy should
> probably mention the x-session-manager alternative, and
> /usr/share/xsessions.)

Based on some conversations on #debian-devel on the purpose of
x-window-manager (as launched by
/etc/X11/Xsession.d/50x11-common_determine-startup), it seems like a
window manager that just manages windows, and expects a separately
launched menu/taskbar program or desktop environment to provide the
ability for the user to launch programs or otherwise do anything useful,
shouldn't register an x-window-manager alternative at all.  Otherwise,
the user might end up staring at a desktop they can't interact with at
all.

So, in that case, the window manager shouldn't register for
x-window-manager, and instead its associated environment or mechanism to
launch a full session should register an x-session-manager altenrative
(and install a /usr/share/xsessions/*.desktop file as well).

- Josh Triplett