Dear mentors, I hope someone can help me with a few doubts:
1) buildd: I have found problems in the compilation of my (first) package in buildd (http://buildd.debian.org/pkg.cgi?pkg=mrpt). Some fixes only imply changes in the debian/ directory, others are changes in the upstream files. How can I fix this? Should I update the version in buildd (incrementing the -1, -2,... Debian version number) and upload it again to mentors? Is it better to replace the package by a newer upstream version which already fixes the building issues? 2) chm (MS' compressed html format) help files: Is it preferred to include only HTML help files in foo-doc packages? I find CHM files quite useful for example, for searching, but I don't know if there's any policy about forbidding/not recommending this kind of files for debian docs. 3) When writing the dependencies in debian/control, is there any way to indicate an optional dependency? For example, some packages in sid are not in etch but I want my package to still be "buildable" under both distributions. 4) Software patent issue: In a package I've included a piece of code which is delicate: a computer vision algorithm (SIFT) on which a patent has been requested by a University. Specifically, the License of the original code I use is: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rob Hess http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~hess/ All code in this package except for the SIFT feature detection code is licensed under the GPL version 2. For more information on SIFT licensing issues, see the file LICENSE.ubc (copied below). SIFT LICENSE CONDITIONS Copyright (2005), University of British Columbia. This software for the detection of invariant keypoints is being made available for individual research use only. Any commercial use or any redistribution of this software requires a license from the University of British Columbia. The following patent has been issued for methods embodied in this software: "Method and apparatus for identifying scale invariant features in an image and use of same for locating an object in an image," David G. Lowe, US Patent 6,711,293 (March 23, 2004). Provisional application filed March 8, 1999. Asignee: The University of British Columbia. For further details on obtaining a commercial license, contact David Lowe ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) or the University-Industry Liaison Office of the University of British Columbia. THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND CONCERNING THIS SOFTWARE. This license file must be retained with all copies of the software, including any modified or derivative versions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I think there should be no problem in including this code keeping these statements, but I prefer to ask for more experienced opinions first :-) BTW, there is currently in Debian another package (autopano-sift) which already contains the same SIFT algorithm (but from different source code), so I expect there is no legal problem here! The copyright of that package does indeed mention the patent issue as well. Best, Jose Luis -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
