Manoj Srivastava writes ("Bug#15946: [PROPOSED] time stamps should be
preserved"):
...
> 1. time stamps should be preserved
> ----------------------------------
>
> This has been already presented to the list and had been accepted, but
> Christian did not have time to actually edit the file.
>
> Most of our packages `touch' files in the packaging process (that is,
> the modification time of the files gets reset to the current time). It
> would be nice if the modification time of the upstream source would be
> preserved.
>
> For example, you could recognize that some documentation is very old
> by looking at the modification time. (Of course, this only works if
> the upstream maintainer kept the original modification time.)
>
> According to a recent discussion on debian-policy on this subject we
> consider this topic as `nice-to-have', but without priority.
> Maintainers are encouraged to keep the original time stamps, though.
>
> I am now looking for seconds for this proposal.
Could you please clarify exactly what text you want to add to the
policy manual ?
I would be opposed to any change that would declare it a bug for a
package to change these timestamps.
Ian.
