On Wed, May 17, 2000 at 04:56:33PM -0400, Brian Mays wrote:
> > Read the packaging manual.
>
> I did, and that's the problem. I suggest that the packaging manual
> needs to be changed.
Most definitely! It doesn't match the existing situation.
> 4.2.14. `Distribution'
> ----------------------
> _contrib_
> The packages with this distribution value do not meet the
> criteria for inclusion in the main Debian distribution as defined
> by the Policy Manual, but meet the criteria for the _contrib_
> Distribution. There is currently no distinction between stable
> and unstable packages in the _contrib_ or _non-free_
> distributions. Use your best judgement in downloading from this
> Distribution.
>
> _non-free_
> Like the packages in the _contrib_ seciton, the packages in
> _non-free_ do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the main
> Debian distribution as defined by the Policy Manual. Again, use
> your best judgement in downloading from this Distribution.
These two paragraphs should be removed completely.
I think these were useful in the days of `hamm' and `slink'. They aren't in
`potato', although IIRC dinstall is background compatible.
> 4.2.9. `Section' and `Priority'
> -------------------------------
> The section and priority are represented, though not as separate
> fields, in the information for each file in the `-File'field of a
> `.changes' file. The section value in a `.changes' file is used to
> decide where to install a package in the FTP archive.
A paragraph about using {main,contrib,non-free}/<section name> should be
added here. I doubt wording is important, it's quite straightforward.
--
Digital Electronic Being Intended for Assassination and Nullification
