Just some numbers I got by grepping over the archive on lintian.d.o: # of packages shipping .desktop files with MimeType associations: 601 # of packages shipping a corresponding mime file in /usr/lib/mime/packages: 89
If a missing mime file would mean an RC bug, this would instantly make
514 packages RC buggy.
Interestingly, the particular section in the Debian policy is a should
directive, not a must, so I don't understand the reasons for making
#658139 RC.
That said, it seems to me, Debian policy and reality have diverged so
far, that imho a reasonable action her is to update or remove the
relevant section in the Debian policy (ยง9.7) to actually reflect current
practice.
Creating and keeping those mime files up-to-date is probably okay if you
maintain a single package or you need some of the special features that
mime-support provides. It adds up though, if you maintain multiple
packages. As maintainers time is limited and valuable I'd rather see it
spent for really important issues and simply get the patch in [1]
applied to mime-support which auto-generates those mime entries for
legacy apps which don't yet support the xdg mime spec [2].
Michael
[1] http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=497779
[2] http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Specifications/shared-mime-info-spec
--
Why is it that all of the instruments seeking intelligent life in the
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