Package: debian-policy
Version: 3.2.1.2
Severity: wishlist

The forbids all non-imake using programs from sticking their files in
/usr/X11R6.

Imake is excepted because programs using it (if they are coded correctly,
at least) rely wholly on the X library development files to figure out the
paths they should install their files into.  Therefore, in the event any
transition to another directory is necessary, they may do so with a simple
recompile against the version of xlibs-dev that makes the appropriate
change(s).

Programs using the GNU autotools are easily configured to install files
into different paths.

--- policy.sgml.orig    Sun Jan 21 14:48:38 2001
+++ policy.sgml Sun Jan 21 15:50:53 2001
@@ -6129,38 +6129,40 @@
        
        <p>
          <em>Packages using the X Window System should abide by the FHS
-           standard whenever possible</em>; they should install binaries,
-         libraries, manual pages, and other files in FHS-mandated
-         locations wherever possible.  This means that files must
-         not be installed into <tt>/usr/X11R6/bin/</tt>,
-         <tt>/usr/X11R6/lib/</tt>, or <tt>/usr/X11R6/man/</tt> unless
-         this is necessary for the package to operate properly.
-         Configuration files for window managers and display managers
-         should be placed in a subdirectory of <tt>/etc/X11/</tt>
-         corresponding to the package name due to these programs'
-         tight integration with the mechanisms of the X Window
-         System.  Application-level programs should use the
-         <tt>/etc/</tt> directory unless otherwise mandated by
-         policy.  The installation of files into subdirectories of
-         <tt>/usr/X11R6/include/X11/</tt> and
-         <tt>/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/</tt> is permitted but discouraged;
-         package maintainers should determine if subdirectories of
-         <tt>/usr/lib/</tt> and <tt>/usr/share/</tt> can be used
-         instead (symlinks from the X11R6 directories to
-         FHS-compliant locations is encouraged if the program is not
-         easily configured to look elsewhere for its files).
-         Packages must not provide -- or install files into -- the
-         directories <tt>/usr/bin/X11/</tt>,
-         <tt>/usr/include/X11/</tt>, or <tt>/usr/lib/X11/</tt>.
-         Files within a package should, however, make reference to
-         these directories, rather than their X11R6-named
+         standard whenever possible</em>; they should install binaries,
+         libraries, manual pages, and other files in FHS-mandated locations
+         wherever possible.  This means that files must not be installed into
+         <tt>/usr/X11R6/bin/</tt>, <tt>/usr/X11R6/lib/</tt>, or
+         <tt>/usr/X11R6/man/</tt> unless they use the <tt>imake</tt> program to
+         configure themselves before compilation.  Configuration files for
+         window managers and display managers should be placed in a
+         subdirectory of <tt>/etc/X11/</tt> corresponding to the package name
+         due to these programs' tight integration with the mechanisms of the X
+         Window System.  Application-level programs should use the
+         <tt>/etc/</tt> directory unless otherwise mandated by policy.  The
+         installation of files into subdirectories of
+         <tt>/usr/X11R6/include/X11/</tt> and <tt>/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/</tt> is
+         discouraged; package maintainers should determine if subdirectories of
+         <tt>/usr/lib/</tt> and <tt>/usr/share/</tt> can be used instead
+         (symlinks from the X11R6 directories to FHS-compliant locations is
+         encouraged if the program is not easily configured to look elsewhere
+         for its files).  Packages must not provide -- or install files into --
+         the directories <tt>/usr/bin/X11/</tt>, <tt>/usr/include/X11/</tt>, or
+         <tt>/usr/lib/X11/</tt>.  Files within a package should, however, make
+         reference to these directories, rather than their X11R6-named
          counterparts <tt>/usr/X11R6/bin/</tt>,
-         <tt>/usr/X11R6/include/X11/</tt>, and
-         <tt>/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/</tt>, if the resources being
-         referred to have not been moved to FHS-compliant locations.
+         <tt>/usr/X11R6/include/X11/</tt>, and <tt>/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/</tt>, if
+         the resources being referred to have not been moved to FHS-compliant
+         locations.
+         <footnote>
+           The rationale for this policy is to provide Debian with an easy
+           transition strategy should we, or the FHS, elect to phase out the
+           <tt>/usr/X11R6/</tt> directory, or if it is superseded by, e.g.,
+           <tt>/usr/X11R7/</tt>.
+         </footnote>
        </p>
 
-       <p>
+       <p>
          <em>Programs that require the non-DFSG-compliant OSF/Motif
            library</em> should be compiled against and tested with
          LessTif (a free re-implementation of Motif) instead.  If the

-- 
G. Branden Robinson             |    Communism is just one step on the long
Debian GNU/Linux                |    road from capitalism to capitalism.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]              |    -- Russian saying
http://www.debian.org/~branden/ |

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