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Re: DEP5: CANDIDATE and ready for use in squeeze+1



Le Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 08:56:16AM +0100, Stefano Zacchiroli a écrit :
> On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 03:20:37AM +0200, Lars Wirzenius wrote:
> > and it's ok by Policy, then I'd be happy to apply a patch someone
> > provides. :)

> Index: dep5.mdwn
> ===================================================================
> --- dep5.mdwn	(revision 157)
> +++ dep5.mdwn	(working copy)
> @@ -149,12 +149,14 @@
>       will usually be written as a list of RFC5822 addresses or URIs.
>  
>   * **`Source`**
> -   * Required
> +   * Optional
>     * Syntax: formatted text, no synopsis
>     * An explanation from where the upstream source came from.
>       Typically this would be a URL, but it might be a free-form
>       explanation. If the upstream source has been modified to remove
> -     non-free parts, that should be explained in this field.
> +     non-free parts, that should be explained in this field. This field
> +     is mandatory for non-native Debian packages; it can be omitted for
> +     native Debian packages.
>  
>   * **`Disclaimer`**
>     * Optional

I would recommend to stick to Policy's words: if there is no upstream sources,
the field is not required.

The problem with ‘native packages’ is that it induces confusion with packages
using a dpkg native source format, like sbackup or ikiwiki, whose purpose,
homepage or VCS are as upstream to Debian as most other programs packaged with
a non-native format.

Also, from a parser point of view, there is a flaw: the parser can not know
whether there exists an upstream source or not, and therefore in the absence of
a Source field it can not accurately validate the machine-readable copyright
file.

So while I support modifying the DEP now, I think that we should also follow up
the question in the Policy, especially if there is a general feeling that since
there a Homepage field in debian/control, it is not necessary anymore to make
it mandatory to record a similar information in debian/copyright.

Cheers,

-- 
Charles Plessy
Tsurumi, Kanagawa, Japan


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