]>
<debiandoc>
<!--
-
- Topics to be included:
+ TODO:
- bugs in upstream versions should be reported upstream!
- - fill in ftp and www server discussion
-
+ - porter instructions - - volunteers needed for this x86-centric
+ maintainer!
+ - add information on how to get accounts on different architectures
+ - talk about CVS access
-->
<book>
<author>Adam P. Harris, current maintainer <email/aph@debian.org/
<author>Christian Schwarz <email/schwarz@debian.org/
<author>Ian Jackson <email/ijackson@gnu.ai.mit.edu/
- <version>version &version;, &date;
+ <version>ver. &version;, &date;
<copyright>
+ <copyrightsummary><p>
Copyright ©1998 Adam P. Harris. Copyright ©1997,1998
Christian Schwarz.
<p>
A copy of the GNU General Public License is available as
<tt>/usr/doc/copyright/GPL</tt> in the Debian GNU/Linux distribution
or on the World Wide Web at <url
-id="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html">. You can also obtain it by
-writing to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite
-330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
+id="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html" name="the GNU website">.
+You can also obtain it by writing to the Free Software Foundation,
+Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
<toc sect>
the Debian package or how to generate Debian packages; that is
discussed in the <url
id="http://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/packaging.html/"
-name="Debian Packaging Manual">. Nor is this reference intended to
-give details on standards for how Debian software must behave, which
-is documented in the <url
-id="http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/" name="Debian Policy
-Manual">.
+name="Debian Packaging Manual">. Neither does this reference detail
+the standards to which Debian software must comply; that information
+can be found in the <url id="http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/"
+name="Debian Policy Manual">.
<chapt id="new-maintainer">Applying to Become a Maintainer
<sect>Getting started
<p>
So, you've read all the documentation, you understand what everything
-in the <prgn/hello/ example package is for, and you're about to
-Debianise your favourite piece of software. How do you actually
+in the <package/hello/ example package is for, and you're about to
+Debianize your favourite piece of software. How do you actually
become a Debian developer so that your work can be incorporated into
the Project?
<p>
Firstly, subscribe to <email/debian-devel@lists.debian.org/ if you
haven't already. Send the word <tt/subscribe/ in the <em/Subject/ of
-a mail to <email/debian-devel-REQUEST@lists.debian.org/. In case of
-problems contact the list administrator at
+an email to <email/debian-devel-REQUEST@lists.debian.org/. In case of
+problems, contact the list administrator at
<email/listmaster@lists.debian.org/. More information on available
mailing lists can be found in <ref id="mailing-lists">.
<p>
<sect>Registering as a Debian developer
<p>
-Before you decide to work in the Debian Project you have to read the
-<url id="http://www.debian.org/social_contract" name="Debian Social
-Contract">. Registering as a developer means that you agree with and
-pledge to uphold the Debian Social Contract; it is very important that
-maintainers are in accord with the essential ideas behind Debian
-GNU/Linux. Reading the <url
+Before you decide to register with the Debian Project, you will need
+to read the <url id="http://www.debian.org/social_contract"
+name="Debian Social Contract">. Registering as a developer means that
+you agree with and pledge to uphold the Debian Social Contract; it is
+very important that maintainers are in accord with the essential ideas
+behind Debian GNU/Linux. Reading the <url
id="http://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.html" name="GNU Manifesto"> would
also be a good idea.
<p>
Your name.
<item>
Your preferred login name on <tt/master/ (seven characters or
-less<footnote>Can anyone clarify for me why logins on <tt>master</tt>
-cannot be eight characters?</footnote> ), as well as the email address
-at which you'd prefer to be subscribed to
+less<footnote>It is not clear to the author why logins on
+<tt>master</tt> cannot be eight characters or greater. If anyone can
+clarify why, I would appreciate it.</footnote>), as well as the email
+address at which you'd prefer to be subscribed to
<email/debian-private@lists.debian.org/ (typically this will be either
your primary mail address or your new <tt>debian.org</tt> address).
<item>
-A phone number where we can call you.
+A phone number where we can call you. Remember that the new
+maintainer team usually calls during evening hours to save on long
+distance tolls. Please do not give a work number, unless you are
+generally there in the evening.
<item>
A statement of intention, that is, what package(s) you intend to work
on, which Debian port you will be assisting, or how you intend to
If emailed, please sign the mail with your PGP key.
</list>
</list>
+ <p>
If you do not have a PGP key yet, generate one. Every developer needs
a PGP key in order to sign and verify package uploads. You should read
the PGP manual, since it has much important information which is
critical to its security. Many more security failures are due to
human error than to software failure or high-powered spy techniques.
<p>
+Our standard is to use <prgn>pgp</prgn> version 2.x. You can use
+<prgn/pgp/ version 5, if and only if you make an RSA key. Note that
+we are also working with the <prgn/gpg/ team so that we can have a
+free alternative to PGP; however, this may take a little bit of time.
+ <p>
Your PGP key must be at least 1024 bits long. There is no reason to
use a smaller key, and doing so would be much less secure. Your key
must be signed with at least your own user ID. This prevents user ID
-tampering. You can do it by executing `<tt>pgp -ks
-<var/your_userid/</tt>'.
+tampering. You can do it by executing <tt>pgp -ks
+<var/your_userid/</tt>.
<p>
If your PGP key isn't on public PGP key servers such as
<tt>pgp.net</tt>, please read the documentation available locally
<tt>/usr/doc/pgp/keyserv.doc</tt>. That document contains
-instructions on how to put your key on the public keyservers.
+instructions on how to put your key on the public key servers.
<p>
Due to export restrictions by the United States government some Debian
packages, including PGP, have been moved to an ftp site outside of the
<ftpsite/ftp.debian.org/ or <ftpsite/ftp.us.debian.org/ in the
<ftppath>/pub/debian/README.non-US</ftppath> file.
<p>
-If you live in a country where use of cryptography even for
-authentication is forbidden then please contact us so we can make
-special arrangements. This does not apply in France, where I believe
-only encryption and not authentication is forbidden.
+Some countries restrict the use of cryptographic software by their
+citizens. This need not impede one's activities as a Debian package
+maintainer however, as it may be perfectly legal to use cryptographic
+products for authentication, rather than encryption purposes (as is
+the case in France). The Debian Project does not require the use of
+cryptography <em/qua/ cryptography in any manner. If you live in a
+country where use of cryptography even for authentication is forbidden
+then please contact us so we can make special arrangements.
<p>
Once you have all your information ready, and your public key is
available on public key servers, send a message to
<email/new-maintainer@debian.org/ to register as an offical Debian
developer so that you will be able to upload your packages. This
-message must all the information discussed above. The message must
-also contain your PGP or RSA public key (extracted using <tt>pgp
--kxa</tt> in the case of PGP; note that <tt/gpg/ integration is
-underway) for the database of keys which is distributed from
-<ftpsite/ftp.debian.org/ in
+message must contain all the information discussed above. The message
+must also contain your PGP or RSA public key (extracted using <tt>pgp
+-kxa</tt> in the case of PGP) for the database of keys which is
+distributed from <ftpsite/ftp.debian.org/ in
<ftppath>/pub/debian/doc/debian-keyring.tar.gz</ftppath>, or the
-<prgn>debian-keyring</prgn> package). Please be sure to sign your
+<package/debian-keyring/ package. Please be sure to sign your
request message with your chosen PGP or RSA key.
<p>
Once this information is received and processed, you should be
contacted with information about your new Debian maintainer account.
-If you don't hear anything within 7-14 days, please re-send your
-original message--the new-maintainer volunteers are typically
-overworked, and mistakes do occasionally happen.
+If you don't hear anything within 7-14 days, please send a followup
+message asking if your original application was received. Do not
+re-send your original application, that will just confuse the
+new-maintainer team. Please be patient, especially near release
+points; mistakes do occasionally happen, and people do sometimes run
+out of volunteer time.
<sect id="mentors">Debian Mentors
<p>
-There is a mailing list called <email/debian-mentors@lists.debian.org/
-which has been set up for newbie maintainers who seek help with
-initial packaging and other developer-related issues. Every new
-developer is invited to subscribe to that list (see <ref
-id="mailing-lists"> for details).
+A mailing list called <email/debian-mentors@lists.debian.org/ which
+has been set up for novice maintainers who seek help with initial
+packaging and other developer-related issues. Every new developer is
+invited to subscribe to that list (see <ref id="mailing-lists"> for
+details).
<p>
-Those who prefer one-on-one help (e.g., via private emails) should
+Those who prefer one-on-one help (e.g., via private email) should
also post to that list and an experienced developer will volunteer to
help.
id="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/subscribe">, <url
id="ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/doc/mailing-lists.txt"> or locally in
<tt>/usr/doc/debian/mailing-lists.txt</tt> if you have the
-<prgn>doc-debian</prgn> package installed.
+<package>doc-debian</package> package installed.
<p>
-When replying to messages on the mailing list, please do not send a
-carbon copy (<tt/CC/--this does not mean `courtesy copy') to the
-original poster. Anyone who posts to a mailing list should read it to
-see the responses.
+When replying to messages on the mailing list, please do not send
+a carbon copy (<tt/CC/--this does not mean `courtesy copy') to
+the original poster unless they explicitly request that this be
+done. Anyone who posts to a mailing list should read it to see the
+responses.
<p>
In addition, all messages should usually only be sent to one of the
following mailing lists: <email/debian-devel@lists.debian.org/,
<email/debian-announce@lists.debian.org/, or
<email/debian-devel-announce@lists.debian.org/. Additional mailing
lists are available for special purposes; see <url
-id="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/subscribe">. Cross-posting is
-discouraged.
+id="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/subscribe">. Cross-posting
+(sending the same message to multiple lists) is discouraged.
<p>
<email/debian-private@lists.debian.org/ is a special mailing lists for
private discussions amongst Debian developers. It is meant to be used
id="http://www.debian.org/Lists-Archives/">.
- <sect>The master server
+ <sect id="servers-master">The master server
+ <p>
+The master server, <tt/master.debian.org/, holds the canonical copy
+of the Debian archive (excluding the non-U.S. packages). Generally,
+package uploads go to this server; see <ref id="upload">.
+ <p>
+<tt/master.debian.org/ is the canonical location for the Bug Tracking
+System (BTS). If you plan on doing some statistical analysis or
+processing of Debian bugs, this would be the place to do it. Please
+describe your plans on <email/debian-devel@lists.debian.org/ before
+implementing anything, however, to reduce unnecessary duplication of
+effort or wasted processing time.
+ <p>
+All Debian developers have accounts on <tt/master.debian.org/. Please
+take care to protect your password to this machine. Try to avoid
+login or upload methods which send passwords over the Internet in the
+clear.
+ <p>
+If you find a problem with <tt/master.debian.org/ such as disk full,
+suspicious activity, or whatever, send an email to
+<email>debian-admin@debian.org</email>.
+
+ <sect id="servers-ftp">The FTP servers
<p>
-The master server, <tt/master.debian.org/, holds the cannonical copy
-of the Debian archive (excluding the non-U.S. packages). Generally,
-package uploads go to this server; cf. <ref id="upload">. All Debian
-developers have accounts on this machine.
- <sect>The FTP servers
+ <sect id="servers-www">The WWW servers
+ <p>
+The main web server, <tt/www.debian.org/, is also known as
+<tt/va.debian.org/. All developers are given accounts on this
+machine.
+ <p>
+If you have some Debian-specific information which you want to serve
+up on the web, you can do do this by putting material in the
+<tt>public_html</tt> directory under your home directory. You can do
+this on either <tt/va.debian.org/ or <tt/master.debian.org/. Any
+material you put in those areas are accessible via the URLs
+<tt>http://www.debian.org/~<var>user-id</var>/</tt> and
+<tt>http://master.debian.org/~<var>user-id</var>/</tt>, respectively.
+Please do <em>not</em> put any materials on Debian servers which do
+not relate to Debian.
<p>
+If you find a problem with the Debian web server, you should generally
+submit a bug against the pseudo-package,
+<package>www.debian.org</package>. First check whether or not someone
+else has already reported the problem on the <url
+id="http://www.debian.org/Bugs/db/pa/lwww.debian.org.html" name="Bug
+Tracking System">.
- <sect>The WWW servers
+ <sect id="servers-cvs">The CVS server
<p>
+<tt/cvs.debian.org/ is also known as <tt/va.debian.org/, discussed
+above. If you need the use of a publically accessible CVS server, for
+instance, to help coordinate work on a package between many different
+developers, you can request a CVS area on the server. Generally,
+<tt/cvs.debian.org/ offers a combination of local CVS access,
+anonymous client-server read-only access, and full client-server
+access through <prgn>ssh</prgn>.
+ <p>
+To request a CVS area, send a request via email to
+<email>debian-admin@debian.org</email>.
+
+
+ <sect id="servers-mirrors">Mirrors of Debian servers
+ <p>
+The web and FTP servers have several mirrors available. Please do not
+put heavy load on the canonical FTP or web servers. Ideally, the
+canonical servers only mirror out to a first tier of mirrors, and all
+user access is to the mirrors. This allows Debian to better spread
+our bandwidth requirements over several servers and networks. Note
+that newer push mirroring techniques ensure that mirrors are as
+up-to-date as they can be.
+ <p>
+The main web page listing the available public FTP (and, usually,
+HTTP) servers can be found at <url
+id="http://www.debian.org/distrib/ftplist">. More information
+concerning mirrors can be found at <url
+id="http://www.debian.org/devel/mirror/">. This useful page includes
+information and tools which can be helpful if you are interested in
+setting up your own mirror, either for internal or public access.
+ <p>
+Note that mirrors are generally run by third-parties who are
+interested in helping Debian. As such, developers generally do not
+have accounts on these machines.
<chapt id="archive">The Debian Archive
main/binary-all/devel/
...
main/binary-i386/
-main/binary-m86k/
+main/binary-i386/admin/
+main/binary-i386/base/
+ ...
+main/binary-m68k
+main/binary-m68k/admin/
+main/binary-m68k/base/
...
main/source/
+main/source/admin/
+main/source/base/
+ ...
main/disks-i386/
main/disks-m68k/
...
contrib/
contrib/binary-all/
contrib/binary-i386/
-contrib/binary-m86k/
+contrib/binary-m68k/
...
contrib/source/
non-free/
non-free/binary-all/
non-free/binary-i386/
-non-free/binary-m86k/
+non-free/binary-m68k/
...
non-free/source/
</example>
<p>
As you can see, the top-level directory of the distribution contains
three directories, namely <em>main</>, <em>contrib</>, and
-<em>non-free</>. These directories are called <em>sections</>.
+p<em>non-free</>. These directories are called <em>sections</>.
<p>
In each section, there is a directory with the source packages
(source), a directory for each supported architecture (binary-i386,
-binary-m86k, etc.), and a directory for architecture independent
+binary-m68k, etc.), and a directory for architecture independent
packages (binary-all).
<p>
The <em/main/ section contains additional directories which holds the
<sect>Sections
<p>
-The <em>main</em> section is what makes up the <em>Debian GNU/Linux
-distribution</>. This is because the packages in the other two
-sections do not fully comply with all our guidelines. As such, they
-are not officially part of Debian.
+The <em>main</em> section is what makes up the <em>official Debian
+GNU/Linux distribution</>. This is because the packages in the other
+two sections do not fully comply with all our guidelines. As such,
+they are not officially part of Debian.
<p>
-For example, every package in the main distribution must fully comply
+For example, every package in the main section must fully comply
with the <url id="http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines"
name="Debian Free Software Guidelines"> (DFSG) and with all other
policy requirements as described in the <url
fail other requirements. For instance, they might depend on non-free
packages.
<p>
-(The <url id="http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/" name="Debian
+The <url id="http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/" name="Debian
Policy Manual"> contains a more exact definition of the three
-sections. This is just meant to be an introduction.)
+sections. The above discussion is just an introduction.
<p>
The separation of the three sections at the top-level of the archive
is important for all people who want to distribute Debian, either via
<p>
On the other hand, a CD-ROM vendor could easily check the individual
package licenses of the packages in <em/non-free/ and include as many
-on the CD-ROMs as he's allowed. (Since this varies from vendor to
-vendor very much, this job can't be done by the Debian developers.)
+on the CD-ROMs as he's allowed. (Since this varies greatly from vendor
+to vendor, this job can't be done by the Debian developers.)
<sect>Architectures
too.
<p>
The Linux 2.0 kernel supports Intel, DEC Alphas, SUN Sparcs, M68000
-machines (like Atari and Amiga), MIPS, and PowerPC.
+(a.k.a. m68k) machines (like Atari and Amiga), MIPS, and PowerPC
+(a.k.a. ppc).
<p>
Debian GNU/Linux 1.3 is only available for Intel platforms. Debian
2.0 supports Intel and m68k architectures. The next version of Debian
<sect>Subsections
<p>
The sections <em/main/, <em/contrib/, and <em/non-free/ are split into
-<em/subsections/, to simplify the installation process and the
-maintainance of the archive. Subsections are not formally defined,
+<em/subsections/ to simplify the installation process and the
+maintainance of the archive. Subections are not formally defined,
excepting perhaps for the "base" subsection. Subsections exist simply
to simpilfy the organization and browsing of available packages.
Please check the current Debian distribution to see which sections are
<em/binary/ packages.
<p>
Source packages consist of either two or three files: a <tt/.dsc/
-file, and either one <tt/.tar.gz/ file or a <tt/.orig.tar.gz/ and a
+file, and either one <tt/.tar.gz/ file or an <tt/.orig.tar.gz/ and a
<tt/.diff.gz/ file.
<p>
If a package is developed specially for Debian and is not distributed
<p>
If a package is distributed elsewhere too, the <tt/.orig.tar.gz/ file
stores the so-called <em/upstream source code/, that is the source
-code that's distributed from the <em/upstream maintainer/ (author). In
-this case, the <tt/.diff.gz/ contains the changes made by the Debian
-maintainer.
+code that's distributed from the <em/upstream maintainer/ (often the
+author of the software). In this case, the <tt/.diff.gz/ contains the
+changes made by the Debian maintainer.
<p>
-The <tt/.dsc/ lists all components of the source package together with
+The <tt/.dsc/ lists all the files in the source package together with
checksums (md5sums) and some additional info about the package
(maintainer, version, etc.).
Debian project.
<p>
The ``development'' is done in the <em/unstable/ distribution (that's
-why this distribution is sometimes called <em/development
+why this distribution is sometimes called the <em/development
distribution/). Every Debian developer can update his or her packages in
this distribution at any time. Thus, the contents of this distribution
-changes from day to day and since no special effort is done to test
+change from day to day and since no special effort is done to test
this distribution it's sometimes ``unstable.''
<p>
-After about a period of development, the <em/unstable/ distribution is
-copied in a new distribution directory, called <em/frozen/. After
-that, no changes are allowed to the frozen distribution, except bug
-fixes. (That's why it's called ``frozen.'') After another month or a
+After a period of development, the <em/unstable/ distribution is
+copied in a new distribution directory, called <em/frozen/. When that
+occurs, no changes are allowed to the frozen distribution except bug
+fixes; that's why it's called ``frozen.'' After another month or a
little longer, the <em/frozen/ distribution is renamed to <em/stable/,
overriding the old <em/stable/ distribution, which is removed at that
time.
This development cycle is based on the assumption that the
<em/unstable/ distribution becomes <em/stable/ after passing a period
of testing as <em/frozen/. Unfortunately, even once a distribution is
-considered <em/stable/, a few bugs inevitably remain--that's why the
-stable distribution is updated every now and then. However, these
-updates are tested very carefully and have to be acknowledged
+considered stable, a few bugs inevitably remain--that's why the stable
+distribution is updated every now and then. However, these updates are
+tested very carefully and have to be introduced into the archive
individually to reduce the risk of introducing new bugs. You can find
proposed additions to <em/stable/ in the <tt/proposed-updates/
-directory.
+directory. Those packages in <tt/proposed-updates/ that pass muster
+are periodically moved as a batch into the stable distribution and the
+revision level of the stable distribution is incremented (e.g., `1.3'
+becomes `1.3r1', `2.0r2' becomes `2.0r3', and so forth).
<p>
-Note, that development is continued during the ``freeze'' period,
-since a new <em/unstable/ distribution is be created when the older
+Note that development is continued during the ``freeze'' period, since
+a new <em/unstable/ distribution is be created when the older
<em/unstable/ is moved to <em/frozen/.
<p>
In summary, there is always a <em/stable/ and an <em/unstable/
could do grave damage to a system, it might be better to put it into
<em/experimental/.
<p>
-For instance, an experimental encrypted filesystem should probably go
+For instance, an experimental encrypted file system should probably go
into experimental. A new, beta, version of some software which uses
completely different configuration might go into experimental at the
maintainer's discretion. New software which isn't likely to damage
<sect id="codenames">Release code names
<p>
Every released Debian distribution has a <em/code name/: Debian 1.1 is
-called <em/buzz/, Debian 1.2 <em/rex/, Debian 1.3 <em/bo/, Debian 2.0
-<em/hamm/, Debian 2.1 will be called <em/slink/, etc. There is also a
-"pseudo-distribution", called <em/sid/, which is
-used to contain packages for architectures which are not yet
-officially supported or released by Debian. are intended to be
-released for some future distribution.
+called <em/buzz/; Debian 1.2, <em/rex/; Debian 1.3, <em/bo/; Debian
+2.0, <em/hamm/; Debian 2.1, <em/slink/. There is also a
+"pseudo-distribution", called <em/sid/, which is contains packages for
+architectures which are not yet officially supported or released by
+Debian. These architectures are planned to be integrated into the
+mainstream distribution at some future date.
<p>
Since the Debian has an open development model (i.e., everyone can
participate and follow the development) even the ``development
should first check the <url
id="http://www.debian.org/doc/prospective-packages.html"
name="Work-Needing and Prospective Packages (WNPP)"> page. Checking
-the WNPP ensures that no-one is already working on packaging that
-software, and that effort is not duplicated. Assuming no-one else is
+the WNPP ensures that no one is already working on packaging that
+software, and that effort is not duplicated. Assuming no one else is
already working on your prospective package, you must then send a
short email to <email/debian-devel@lists.debian.org/ describing your
plan to create a new package. You should set the subject of the email
line of testers); we should encourage these people.
<item>
-I think the announcements gives us a better feel of what is going on,
-and what is new, in the project.
+The announcements give maintainers and other interested parties a
+better feel of what is going on, and what is new, in the project.
+
<item>
We should not dismiss anybody who installs from unstable and helps us
deserve what you get"--we derive a certain benefit from the alpha
testers.
- <item>
-If we appreciate alpha testers, than any name changes have to be
-backwards compatible with the people who already installed the old
-package (conflict and replace old package name at a minimum).
</list>
testing, before it is actually included in <em/stable/. Also note
that it never makes sense to combine the <em/experimental/
distribution with anything else.
-
<p>
The first time a version is uploaded which corresponds to a particular
upstream version the original source tar file should be uploaded and
need not then be uploaded.
<p>
By default <prgn/dpkg-genchanges/ and <prgn/dpkg-buildpackage/ will
-include the original source tar-file if and only if the Debian
+include the original source tar file if and only if the Debian
revision part of the source version number is <tt/0/ or <tt/1/,
indicating a new upstream version. This behaviour may be modified by
using <tt/-sa/ to always include it or <tt/-sd/ to always leave it
Make sure you try the following activities (you'll need to have an
older version of the Debian package around).
<list>
- <item> install the package and make sure the software
- works
-
- <item> upgrade the package from an older version to your
- new version
-
- <item> downgrade the package to the previous version
- (this tests the <tt/postrm/ and <tt/prerm/ scripts)
-
- <item> remove the package
-
- <item> run <prgn/lintian/ over the package. You can run
- <prgn/lintian/ as follows: <tt>lintian -v
- <var>package-NN</var>.changes</tt>. This will check the
- source package as well as the binary package. If you
- don't understand the output that <prgn/lintian/
- generates, try adding the <tt/-i/ switch, which will
- cause <prgn/lintian/ to output a very verbose
- description of the problem.
+ <item>
+Install the package and make sure the software works, or upgrade the
+package from an older version to your new version if a Debian package
+for it already exists.
+
+ <item>
+Run <prgn/lintian/ over the package. You can run <prgn/lintian/ as
+follows: <tt>lintian -v <var>package-NN</var>.changes</tt>. This will
+check the source package as well as the binary package. If you don't
+understand the output that <prgn/lintian/ generates, try adding the
+<tt/-i/ switch, which will cause <prgn/lintian/ to output a very
+verbose description of the problem.
+ <p>
+Normally, a package should <em/not/ be uploaded if it causes lintian
+to emit errors (they will start with <tt/E/).
+ <p>
+For more information on <prgn/lintian/, see <ref id="lintian">.
+ <item>
+Downgrade the package to the previous version (if one exists) -- this
+tests the <tt/postrm/ and <tt/prerm/ scripts.
+
+ <item>
+Remove the package, then reinstall it.
</list>
have this account. You can use either <prgn/ssh/ or <prgn/ftp/ to
transfer the files. In either case, the files need to be placed into
<ftppath>/home/Debian/ftp/private/project/Incoming</ftppath>. (You
-cannot upload to Incoming on master using anonymous FTP--you must use
-your user-name and password.)
+cannot upload to Incoming on master using anonymous FTP -- you must use
+your username and password.)
+ <p>
+<em/Note:/ Do not upload packages containing software that is
+export-controlled by the United States government to <tt/master/.
+This includes almost all cryptographic software, and even software
+that contains "hooks" to cryptographic software, such as electronic
+mail readers that support PGP encryption and authentication. Uploads
+of such software should go to <tt/non-us/ (see below). If you are
+not sure whether U.S. export controls apply to your package, post a
+message to <email/debian-devel@lists.debian.org/ and ask.
<p>
-You may also find the Debian package <prgn/dupload/ useful when
+You may also find the Debian package <package/dupload/ useful when
uploading packages. This handy program is distributed with defaults
for uploading via <prgn/ftp/ to <tt/master/, <tt/chiark/, and
<tt/erlangen/. It can also be configured to use <prgn/ssh/. See
<p>
To upload a package to the <em/non-us/ server you just have to
transfer the files via anonymous ftp to <url
-id="ftp://nonus.debian.org/pub/debian-non-US/Incoming">. Note, that
+id="ftp://non-us.debian.org/pub/debian-non-US/Incoming">. Note, that
the <tt>.changes</tt> file must have a valid PGP signature from one of
-the keys of the developers keyring.
+the keys of the developers key-ring.
<sect>Announcing package uploads
If a package is released with the <tt/Distribution:/ set to
<tt/stable/, the announcement is sent to
<email/debian-changes@lists.debian.org/.
- <p>
If a package is released with <tt/Distribution:/ set to <tt/unstable/,
<tt/experimental/, or <tt/frozen/ (when present), the announcement
should be posted to <email/debian-devel-changes@lists.debian.org/
instead.
<p>
-If you use dupload, it is clever enough to determine for itself where
-the announcement should go, and will automatically mail the
-announcement.
+On occasion, it is necessary to upload a package to both the <tt/stable/
+and <tt/unstable/ distributions; this is done by putting both distributions
+in the <tt/Distribution:/ line. In such a case the upload announcement
+should go to both of the above mailing lists.
+ <p>
+The <prgn/dupload/ program is clever enough to determine for itself
+where the announcement should go, and will automatically mail the
+announcement. See <ref id="dupload">.
<sect>Notification that a new package has been installed
<p>
set the severity of the bugs fixed in the NMU to "fixed". This
ensures that everyone knows that the bug was fixed in an NMU; however
the bug is left open until the changes in the NMU are incorporated
-"officially" into the package by the offical package maintainer.
+"officially" into the package by the official package maintainer.
<p>
The normal maintainer should do at least one of the following:
<list compact>
is also available at in the Work-Needing and Prospective Packages
document (WNPP), <url
id="ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/doc/package-developer/prospective-packages.html">
-and at <url
-id="http://www.debian.org/doc/prospective-packages.html">. If you wish
-to take over maintenance of any of the packages listed in the WNPP, or
-if you can no longer maintain a packages you have, or you simply want
-to know if any one is working on a new package, send a message to
-<email/wnpp@debian.org/.
+and at <url id="http://www.debian.org/doc/prospective-packages.html">.
+If you wish to take over maintenance of any of the packages listed in
+the WNPP, or if you can no longer maintain a packages you have, or you
+simply want to know if any one is working on a new package, send a
+message to <email/wnpp@debian.org/.
+
<p>
If you take over an old package, you probably want to be listed as the
package's official maintainer in the bug system. This will happen
<sect>Moving packages
<p>
-Sometimes a package will change either it's section or it's
-subsection. For instance, a package from the `non-free' section might
-be GPL'd in a later version; in this case you should consider moving
-it to `main' or `contrib' (see the <url
+Sometimes a package will change either its section or its subsection.
+For instance, a package from the `non-free' section might be GPL'd in
+a later version; in this case you should consider moving it to `main'
+or `contrib' (see the <url
id="http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/" name="Debian Policy
Manual"> for guidelines).
<p>
details). Carefully examine the installation log sent to you when the
package is installed into the archive. If for some reason the old
location of the package remains, file a bug against
-<prgn/ftp.debian.org/ asking that the old location be removed. Give
+<tt/ftp.debian.org/ asking that the old location be removed. Give
details on what you did, since it might be a <prgn/dinstall/ bug.
<sect>Removing packages
<p>
If for some reason you want to completely remove a package (say, if it
-is an old compatability library which is not longer required), you
-need to file a bug against <prgn/ftp.debian.org/ asking that the
+is an old compatibility library which is not longer required), you
+need to file a bug against <tt/ftp.debian.org/ asking that the
package be removed. Make sure you indicate which distribution the
package should be removed from.
<p>
id="http://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/packaging.html/"
name="Debian Packaging Manual"> for details). Once you've uploaded
that package, and the package has moved into the archive, file a bug
-against <prgn/ftp.debian.org/ asking to remove the package with the
+against <tt/ftp.debian.org/ asking to remove the package with the
obsolete name.
Maintainers interact with the BTS via email addresses at
<tt/bugs.debian.org/. Documentation on available commands can be
found at <url id="http://www.debian.org/Bugs/">, or, if you have
-installed the <prgn/debian-doc/ package, you can look at the local
+installed the <package/debian-doc/ package, you can look at the local
files <tt>/usr/doc/debian/bug-*</tt>.
<p>
Often as a package maintainer, you find bugs in other packages or else
<sect id="lintian-reports">Lintian reports
<p>
-You should periodically get the new <prgn/lintian/ from `unstable' and
-check over all your packages. Alternatively you can check for you're
-maintainer email address at <url id="http://www.debian.org/lintian/">.
-That page, which is updated automatically, contains <prgn/lintian/
-reports against the latest version of the package (usually from
-'unstable') using the latest <prgn/lintian/.
+You should periodically get the new <package/lintian/ from `unstable' and
+check over all your packages. Alternatively you can check for your
+maintainer email address at the <url
+id="http://www.debian.org/lintian/" name="online lintian report">.
+That report, which is updated automatically, contains <prgn/lintian/
+reports against the latest version of the distribution (usually from
+'unstable') using the latest <package/lintian/.
<sect>Reporting lots of bugs at once
If you report more then 10 bugs on the same topic at once, it is
recommended that you send a message to
<email/debian-devel@lists.debian.org/ describing your intention before
-submitting the report. This will allow other developers to verify that
-the bug is a real problem. In addition, it will prevent the situation
-where several maintainers start filing the same bug report
-simultaneously.
+submitting the report. This will allow other developers to verify
+that the bug is a real problem. In addition, it will help prevent
+a situation in which several maintainers start filing the same bug
+report simultaneously.
<p>
-Note, that when sending lots of bugs on the same subject, you should
+Note that when sending lots of bugs on the same subject, you should
send the bug report to <email/maintonly@bugs.debian.org/ so that the
bug report is not forwarded to the bug distribution mailing list.
- <chapt id="tools">Whirlwind Tour of Debian Maintainer Tools
+ <chapt id="tools">Overview of Debian Maintainer Tools
<p>
This section contains a rough overview of the tools available to
maintainers. These tools are meant to help convenience developers and
free their time for critical tasks.
<p>
Some people prefer to use high-level package maintenance tools and
-some do not. Debian is officially agnostic on this issue, other than
-making the attempt to accomodate the reasonable wishes of developers.
-Therefore, this section is not meant to stipulate to anyone which
-tools they should use or how they should go about with their duties of
-maintainership. Nor is it meant to endorse any particular tool to the
-exclusion of a competing tool.
+some do not. Debian is officially agnostic on this issue; any tool
+which gets the job done is fine. Therefore, this section is not meant
+to stipulate to anyone which tools they should use or how they should
+go about with their duties of maintainership. Nor is it meant to
+endorse any particular tool to the exclusion of a competing tool.
<p>
Most of the descriptions of these packages come from the actual
package descriptions themselves.
<sect id="dpkg-dev">
- <heading><prgn>dpkg-dev</prgn>
+ <heading><package/dpkg-dev/
<p>
-<prgn>dpkg-dev</prgn> contains the tools (including
+<package/dpkg-dev/ contains the tools (including
<prgn/dpkg-source/) required to unpack, build and upload Debian source
packages. These utilities contain the fundamental, low-level
functionality required to create and manipulated packages; as such,
they are required for any Debian maintainer.
<sect id="lintian">
- <heading><prgn>lintian</prgn>
+ <heading><package/lintian/
<p>
-<prgn>Lintian</prgn> dissects Debian packages and reports bugs and
+<package/Lintian/ dissects Debian packages and reports bugs and
policy violations. It contains automated checks for many aspects of
Debian policy as well as some checks for common errors. The use of
-<prgn>lintian</prgn> has already been discussed in <ref
+<package/lintian/ has already been discussed in <ref
id="upload-checking"> and <ref id="lintian-reports">.
<sect id="debhelper">
- <heading><prgn>debhelper</prgn>
+ <heading><package/debhelper/
<p>
-<prgn>debhelper</prgn> is a collection of programs that can be used in
+<package/debhelper/ is a collection of programs that can be used in
<tt>debian/rules</tt> to automate common tasks related to building
binary Debian packages. Programs are included to install various files
into your package, compress files, fix file permissions, integrate
your package with the Debian menu system.
<p>
-Unlike <prgn>debmake</prgn>, <prgn>debhelper</prgn> is broken into
+Unlike <package/debmake/, <package/debhelper/ is broken into
several small, granular commands which act in a consistent manner. As
such, it allows a greater granularity of control than
-<prgn>debmake</prgn>.
+<package/debmake/.
<sect id="debmake">
- <heading><prgn>debmake</prgn>
+ <heading><package/debmake/
<p>
-<prgn>debmake</prgn>, a pre-cursor to <prgn>debhelper</prgn>, is a
+<package/debmake/, a pre-cursor to <package/debhelper/, is a
less granular <tt>debian/rules</tt> assistant. It includes two main
programs: <prgn>deb-make</prgn>, which can be used to help a
maintainer convert a regular (non-Debian) source archive into a Debian
source package; and <prgn>debstd</prgn>, which incorporates in one big
shot the same sort of automated functions that one finds in
-<prgn>debhelper</prgn>.
+<package/debhelper/.
<sect id="cvs-buildpackage">
- <heading><prgn>cvs-buildpackage</prgn>
+ <heading><package/cvs-buildpackage/
<p>
-<prgn>cvs-buildpackage</prgn> provides the capability to inject or
+<package/cvs-buildpackage/ provides the capability to inject or
import Debian source packages into a CVS repository, build a Debian
package from the CVS repository, and helps in integrating upstream
changes into the repository.
version control system.
<sect id="dupload">
- <heading><prgn>dupload</prgn>
+ <heading><package/dupload/
<p>
-<prgn>dupload</prgn> is a package and a script to automagically upload
+<package/dupload/ is a package and a script to automagically upload
Debian packages to the Debian archive, to log the upload, and to send
mail about the upload of a package. You can configure it for new
upload locations or methods.
~ianmdlvl / developers-reference.git / blobdiff