Bug#532097: RFC: Forming a Printing Task Force (was RFA: cups -- Common UNIX Printing System)

[Till Kamppeter <till.kamppeter@gmail.com>]

I think this is a good idea.

We are currently in sync with the following packages:

- cups (pitti + me)
- foomatic-db (OdyX + me)
- foomatic-db-engine (OdyX + me)
- hplip (Mark Purcell + me)

Other printing-related packages are

- ghostscript
- foomatic-filters
- gutenprint
- foo2zjs
- splix
- pnm2ppa
- min12xxw
- m2300w
- pxljr
- cjet
- system-config-printer
- python-cups

Note that I have taken this list from Ubuntu. It is possible that Debian 
has even more packages, especially also for non-CUPS workflows (these 
are not supported by Ubuntu).

foomatic-filters will be synced between Ubuntu and Debian soon, too 
(OdyX + me).

   Till


On 07/01/2010 03:40 PM, Didier 'OdyX' Raboud wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm answering to RFA bug #532097, CC'ing to various printing-related packages
> and to pkg-cups-devel@l.a.d.o. Please followup to the pkg-cups-devel list (if
> that's OKay).
>
> === Preamble ===
>
> I just joined Chris Lawrence, along with Till Kamppeter in maintaining some
> foomatic-* packages. Then I noticed the big² pile of work in ghostscript, cups
> and many surrounding packages.
>
> I don't intend to fingerpoint specific people or teams, but the situation is
> worrying : some unresolved security issues, many RC bugs, tons of bugs, an
> increasing diff with Ubuntu, etc.
>
> My perception of the problem is that the forces are currently divided between
> Ubuntu and Debian. It seems that Ubuntu is better than Debian in keeping up with
> patches, etc. In my humble opinion, it is now time to get those patches back to
> Debian and merge our forces towards a better printing experience for both Debian
> and Ubuntu users.
>
> === Proposal ===
>
> I propose to form a "Printing Task Force" that would join the Debian and Ubuntu
> forces around common repositories: there is almost never interest in keeping a
> diff between Debian and Ubuntu. This group would handle the following packages:
>
> 	cups
> 	ghostscript
> 	foomatic-*
> 	? other ones ?
>
> Would there be some interest in such a group ? What other packages would suit ?
>
> Thanks in advance, cheers,
>
> OdyX
>
> N.B. I intentionally kept out of the discussion the "implementation details"
> such as $VCS choice, mailing-list or group name, etc.