Debian currently uses the `column` command from FreeBSD. However, the
`column` command included in the util-linux package from the Linux
Kernel Organisation is much more useful.
There is a bug report about this at
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=908975, which ends
with the Debian util-linux package maintainer stating:
"Until you've convinced the bsdmainutils maintainers we should change
to the util-linux versions, there's nothing that can be done on the
util-linux/bsdutils side - thus the wontfix tag."
In my "Development Days", I would have gotten the Source for the newer version, Compile it in my own System, copy the result into /usr/local/bin and put it before /usr/bin.
Do people still do Workarounds like this?
Are there ways to, then "Package it", and submit it back to Debian? Based on the above Bug Report, would that get you anywhere? Thank you.
How can we persuade the Debian bsdmainutils package maintainers to
allow the Linux version of column to be shipped?
Do they have an Email List?
Kenneth Parker