Bug#961301: util-linux: column from util-linux is not available at runtime

[Jules Samuel Randolph]

Package: util-linux
Version: 2.34-0.1ubuntu9
Severity: important

Dear Maintainer,

I am trying to package bootiso , which
depends on util-linux >= 2.26 and requires the "column" command and its
numerous features, specifically -d, -N and -W flags.

However, since the bsdmainutils "column" is used instead, this dependency
cannot be honored for debian. This is a huge, blocking problem to
properly ship bootiso utility. Luckuly, being upstream author I can
write some hard-coded checks to control supported flags. But the general
idea that one author cannot rely on the presence of appropriate versions
of utilities as central to GNU/Linux as those shipped in "util-linux" is
troublesome. The rule responsible for disabling column utility is
available here:
https://salsa.debian.org/debian/util-linux/-/blob/68f9a3a314831acb19ed09ae2b598a9e471d8c46/debian/rules#L38

I have read https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=908975 but
the proposed resolution, to add a "-o" option in bsdmainutils, doesn't
address bootiso users issue.

Please note I am writing from Ubuntu, but that has no incidence on the
scope of the present report. See also
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+bug/1705437
which defers the issue to Debian maintainers.

-- System Information:
Debian Release: bullseye/sid
  APT prefers focal-updates
  APT policy: (500, 'focal-updates'), (500, 'focal-security'), (500, 'focal'), 
(100, 'focal-backports')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
Foreign Architectures: i386

Kernel: Linux 5.4.0-31-generic (SMP w/1 CPU core)
Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=pt_BR.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), 
LANGUAGE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /usr/bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)
LSM: AppArmor: enabled

Versions of packages util-linux depends on:
ii  libaudit1  1:2.8.5-2ubuntu6
ii  libblkid1  2.34-0.1ubuntu9
ii  libc6  2.31-0ubuntu9
ii  libcap-ng0 0.7.9-2.1build1
ii  libcrypt1  1:4.4.10-10ubuntu4
ii  libmount1  2.34-0.1ubuntu9
ii  libpam0g   1.3.1-5ubuntu4
ii  libselinux13.0-1build2
ii  libsmartcols1  2.34-0.1ubuntu9
ii  libsystemd0245.4-4ubuntu3
ii  libtinfo6  6.2-0ubuntu2
ii  libudev1   245.4-4ubuntu3
ii  libuuid1   2.34-0.1ubuntu9
ii  login  1:4.8.1-1ubuntu5
ii  zlib1g 1:1.2.11.dfsg-2ubuntu1

util-linux recommends no packages.

Versions of packages util-linux suggests:
ii  dosfstools  4.1-2
ii  kbd 2.0.4-4ubuntu2
pn  util-linux-locales  

-- no debconf information

Bug#961287: ITP: bootiso -- a bash program to securely create a bootable USB device from one image file

[Jules Samuel Randolph]

Package: wnpp
Severity: wishlist
Owner: Jules Samuel Randolph 

* Package name: bootiso
  Version : 4.0.1
  Upstream Author : Jules Samuel Randolph 
* URL : https://github.com/jsamr/bootiso
* License : GPLv3
  Programming Lang: bash
  Description : A bash program to securely create a bootable USB device 
from one image file.

This program is a user-friendly CLI to create bootable USB devices
from image files. It not only adds a security layer on top of dd by
checking target device is connected through USB port and performing
a handful of other assertions, but it also supports non-hybrid ISOs,
given that they follow either UEFI standard or provide ISOLINUX boot
configuration. The utility claims support for:

- Modern GNU/Linux images;
- BSD images;
- Ultimate Boot CD (non-hybrid) and other rescue CDs;
- Windows 7 (x64) and superior;

... and any hybrid images.

The utility also offers additional features such as persistent data
partitions, hashsum checks, quickformat... etc.

Even though this is far from the only program aimed at booting USB
sticks, I have no knowledge of similar programs operating in full
command-line mode. Being the upstream author, I plan to maintain
it as long as the project thrives. I am also very concerned and
meticulous about following GNU/Linux, POSIX and other standards and
will do everything  to comply. The utility is shipped with a man,
zsh and bash completions.

I would love to have a sponsor to help me get in. I am curently
taking a look at Debian Policy Manual and other material to create
a source repository. If someone would like to review it when it's
ready, that would be amazing.

I might also be interrested in maintaining other packages in the
future, although this is not my top priority.