On Mon, Feb 28, 2000 at 02:23:32PM +1030, Michael Pearson wrote: > > Hello there. You would not be alone if you were to not use the x.x.x-x > > notation; apt, dpkg, and alien all forgo the -x bit. I don't know for > > sure that I would recommend it -- I think I have read somewhere that > > missing the debian change number implies it is a debian-specific tool. > That's one of the things I was worried about. Does anybody else have any > comments on this?
There are several packages that are packaged as native packages, that are not Debian specific, and there are also several packages that are packaged as non-native packages, but their maintainer is also a Debian developer. You're free to choose either way. As long as the package works, that is. :) > > More so than just the implications, however, is convenience. If you > > every make a mistake to the postinst or preinst or other debian specific > > packaging aids, you will have to bump the version number on what you > > release as well when you fix the problem, even if the problem existed > > only in the debian package. > The problem is that seeing as the debian package comes straight from the > original source tree, any modifications to the debian specific files means > a modification of the source tree. Therefore, I feel it more appropriate to > increase the version number of the whole source, not just the debian package. However, if you don't feel like uploading a new "upstream" version to the web/ftp site and/or doing whatever else is usually done when a new version is released, just add the -X suffix to the old version, as that would clearly indicate that a change is Debian-only. Later you can revert to revision-less numbering scheme, no problem. > > So, you can do it, and I don't think anyone will be upset at you, nor do > > I think anything will break; but it might be more work on yourself. > I'm wondering: is there anything in policy about this? Can't seem to find > anything, however I may have missed it. I can't remember if there's a policy on this, either... probably not. -- enJoy -*/\*- don't even try to pronounce my first name

