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add debian/watch file to packages



Hi debian-qa!
having a package upstream up-to-date is important and this is why we have
debian/watch files used by uupdate. Fortunately the PTS checks and reports if a
new upstream version is available IF it founds the debian/watch file for
package.
Unfortunately only a few packages provide this file, partial results (I stopped
at pool/main/p/phpgroupware-inv using www/bin/extract_watch.py from PTS) are
below:

out of 4827 diffs examined (I expect native debian packages to be updated
upstream, CVS doesn't count of course) only 698 (14%) have that file (and it's
not guaranteed it's valid)

Usually it is expected for a DD to follow or at least be subscribed to program
developing, while this is true for big projects this is false for small projects
and there using debian/watch would be really useful. Unfortunately it is not
habit to include the file, possible solutions are to mass-filing wishlist bugs
(painful but probably effective) giving hints and guidelines how to write a
valid watch file and/or manually find out the homepage and file pattern for
package, perhaps using the informations from /usr/share/doc/<package> and/or
googling.

please comment on this, any hint/suggestion/insult is welcome!

filippo 
--
Filippo Giunchedi 
GNU/PG key: 6B79D401
Random signature below:

All language designers are arrogant. Goes with the territory...
-- Larry Wall

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