Bug#1092762: debian-policy: Double "except" in same sentence (4.9)

[Bill Allombert <ballombe@debian.org>]

On Sat, Jan 11, 2025 at 11:59:31AM +0100, Niels Thykier wrote:
> Package: debian-policy
> Severity: minor
> X-Debbugs-Cc: niels@thykier.net
> 
> 
> In Policy 4.9, we have this sentence:
> > Except for packages in the non-free archive with the Autobuild control field unset or set to no, required targets must not attempt network access, except, via the loopback interface, to services on the build host that have been started by the build.
> 
> 
> This sentence has "except" upon "execpt" (I see it as a form of "double
> negation).
> 
> Can we rephrase this with fewer "except" or "negations"?
> 
> Maybe something like:
> 
> """
> The required targets of debian/rules are allowed to access the loopback
> interfaces to services on the build host that have been started by the
> build. Only packages in the non-free or non-free-firmware archive with the
> `Autobuild` control field set to `yes` are allowed to attempt any form of
> network access beyond that from the required debian/rules targets.
> """

This is not the equivalent: "Autobuild: no" become "Autobuild: yes" in your
version...

Also it is awkward to put the exception before the rule.
I feel this is less clear than the original version.

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

Imagine a large red swirl here.