This is a library, so the binary package names should probably be libzmat0/libzmat-dev/octave-zmat. I have not checked the rest of the package.
It's generally recommended, and in some teams required, that packaging repositories be hosted on https://salsa.debian.org, not with upstream.
got it. I just registered an account on salsa.
just a few quick follow up questions
from browsing some of the existing repos, it appears that the package repo contains all upstream source files (with the addition of the debian/ folder), which is different from Fedora (upstream source package is separate from the .spec and patch* files).
is there any preference in terms of how to manage upstream source files on salsa? for example, I can
1. clone my upstream git repo (including history) from github to salsa, and then add the debian/ files in a special packaging branch, and then keep syncing/merging with the upstream after each release, or
2. just upload a snapshot of each new release and keep it
separate from the upstream source history, or
3. directly add those debian/ packaging files to upstream code tree and clone it to salsa.
Yes, and probably by posting to the team's mailing list: https://mentors.debian.net/sponsors (As you have a Git repository, you probably don't need to actually upload to mentors.debian.net - I never did.)
if I am willing to be the maintainer of my own packages, do I
still need to find a package sponsor (given I am not a maintainer
yet)?
from the above link, one of the paths is to "Join a packaging
team", for example, how do I "join" debian-science or DebianMed?
or the packaging team is separate? the "how to join" section of this webpage
loops back to this mailing list.
Yes, an ITP bug: see https://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/ for how to do this.
just to straighten my thoughts, in general, to contribute a new
package to Debian as a prospective new package maintainer, I need
to
1. create drafted packaging files from the intended upstream release tarball
2. upload to salsa
3. email debian-mentors mailing list to get someone review it and fix the issues
4. submit an ITP bug
5. ask sponsor to submit the package on your behave
6. going through a separate process to become a maintainer? (or
it coincides with this submission process and I will become a
maintainer once the package is approved?)
sorry, forgive me for asking these basic questions.
Qianqian