On Tue, Mar 17, 2026 at 08:46:29AM +0100, Simon Josefsson wrote: > Bill Allombert <[email protected]> writes: > > > On Mon, Mar 16, 2026 at 11:51:33PM +0100, Simon Josefsson wrote: > >> Package: debian-policy > >> Version: 4.7.3.0 > >> Severity: wishlist > >> > >> Hi! The copyright specification > >> > >> https://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/copyright-format/1.0/ > >> > >> do not mention Files-Excluded/Included which are supported for a long > >> time by uscan and other tools. > > > > This is the opposite: Files-Excluded/Included was never part of the > > copyright-format specification, and packaging tools should not require the > > use > > of copyright-format since it is an optional format. They should have used > > another file instead. > > I agree it is a bad design. But a lot of things aren't how we would > want them to be. Documenting reality is sometimes better than hiding > things, hoping something better will come along.
But Debian Policy purpose is higher than just documenting things (which are already documented anyway). > Although what do you mean packaging tools shouldn't require the use of > copyright-format? There is no requirement here, everything is opt-in. > The patch document these to be optional fields, for those who want to > use them as they are supported by uscan and mk-origtargz. Getting uscan to call mk-origtargz to remove files requires using the new copyright-format. Otherwise the maintainer need to call mk-origtargz manually. We should do better. Cheers, -- Bill. <[email protected]> Imagine a large red swirl here.
