Debian bug report etiquette
Hello people,
with the Bookworm soft freeze already under way, the time left for fixing packages is running low, and there's a specific case where I'd appreciate advice.
The package is terminator[1], a python based extension (I think) of Gnome terminal. I don't use it myself, but the current Bookworm version breaks Debian Policy (it declares compliance with 4.6.1) in its handling of the -e option [2] when invoked as x-terminal-emulator. It declares Provides: x-terminal-emulator and sets itself as a Debian alternative for x-terminal-emulator in its maintainer scripts.
There is an existing bug [3] with the title "Handling of -e violates policy for x-terminal-emulator" - the issue was fixed upstream some time ago but the bug remained open. The bug has now returned with the same result of breaking compliance with Debian Policy.
I was unsure whether to post a new bug report or append to the existing one, but did the latter [4].
The issue is fixed by an upstream git commit [5] easily applied by a patch (confirmed), which would make the package fit for release. (Other maintainer options could be to drop the claim to provide x-terminal-emulator or drop the package itself.)
My question: I'm in doubt whether the maintainer (Debian Python Team) will notice the issue in time for the Bookworm release - would posting a new bug report be seen as "nagging"? Should I just leave it as it is? (I don't personally care all that much about Terminator itself.) Is there some other action that would be more appropriate? Is there a polite way to push the severity up from its current "normal"? How important is breaking Debian Policy?
Also: is this the right mailing list to ask such questions?
Best wishes,
John
[1] https://packages.debian.org/bookworm/terminator
[2] https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-customized-programs.html#packages-providing-a-terminal-emulator
[3] https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=901245
[4] https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=901245#17
[5] https://github.com/gnome-terminator/terminator/commit/91cc928f0de1f9d6d51136cf50f06c35b5faca62
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