Bug#1035733: debian -policy: packages must not use dpkg-divert to override default systemd configuraton files
On Tue, Jun 06, 2023 at 12:16:39PM +0100, Luca Boccassi wrote:
> > > local administrators and local packages to override the behaviour of
> > > Debian. Its use between Debian packages should be rare, should involve
> > > coordination between the packages and their maintainers, and must only
> > > be used to solve problems that cannot be handled through other
> > > facilities or native mechanisms. In other words, packages in Debian
> > > must not divert a file from another package unless this is arranged
> > > cooperatively between the packages to solve some specific and unusual
> > > problem.
> >
> > How about:
> >
> > Diversions and alternatives are primarily tools for local
> > administrators and local packages to override Debian's default
> > behaviour. Maintainers should prefer to use other, package-specific
> > facilities for overriding configuration, such as systemd's unit file
> > overrides, wherever possible.
> >
> > If diversions and alternatives are to be used, maintainers should
> > co-ordinate with the maintainers of all the packages involved. For
> > example, configuration files used by systemd components should not
> > be diverted with dpkg-divert or the alternatives system without
> > agreement between not only the maintainers of the packages that ship
> > the files, but also the maintainers of the relevant systemd
> > components.
>
> As above, as long as this wording makes any offending package
> rc-buggy, it's fine by me, but my understanding is that using 'should'
> doesn't guarantee that. Please correct me if I'm wrong here.
I do not think there is consensus that this should be a RC bug outside of
a case by case basis. It is already awkward to mention systemd explicitly
in this paragraph.
The diversion system is made precisely to work around other packages behavior,
this is a feature not a bug. That it should only be used as last resort, I
think everyone agree. But when it is, it should not be a RC bug.
Cheers,
--
Bill. <ballombe@debian.org>
Imagine a large red swirl here.
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