Package: debian-policy
Severity: wishlist
Most -dev packages currently hard-code a dependency on `libc6-dev',
but for reasons of policy, not all architectures have that package
(various other names include `libc6.1-dev' and `libc0.2-dev', which
could expand to more if Debian ever branches into further systems
that glibc is ported to), the other packages currently must provide
`libc6-dev' to satisfy that dependency. I consider that ugly.
The packages also provide `libc-dev', but nothing in policy requires
its use, I would like policy to require that -dev packages besides
the -dev package provided by the glibc sources either recommend or
depend on `libc-dev'.
Problems:
libc5-dev does provide libc-dev as well, but that package is not
allowed to be installed on glibc2-based Debian systems, and
libc5-altdev does not provide libc-dev.
glibc should remain backward compatible for the forseeable future, so
the name 'libc-dev' should be safe for quite some time (and if that
ever changes, we will need to formulate a migration plan anyway).
--
Joel Klecker (aka Espy) <URL:http://web.espy.org/>
<URL:mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <URL:mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Debian GNU/Linux PowerPC -- <URL:http://www.debian.org/ports/powerpc/>
