[zeromq-dev] Debian packaging: current status & where to go from there

[Peter Busser]

Martin,

2010/1/28 Martin Sustrik <sustrik at 250bpm.com>:

> 1. Vitaly moves the CL binding out of the tree.
> 2. I'll rip the CL stuff out of 0MQ tree.
> 3. Peter will create the package.
>
> That sounds like a plan!

Right!

> 1. It doesn't require debian directory in the root of the source tree,
> making it neater.

Actually, it moves the debian directory from packages to . And . is
the root of the source tree.

The root of the source tree is the only useful place for the debian
directory. So basically the choice is between adding Debian packaging
support by putting it in the root of the source tree, or deleting
Debian support completely. Putting it in a subdirectory only causes
confusion and means extra work for the users.

> 2. It provides packaging scripts in the root of Debian source package, which
> AFAIU is the best practice.

The best practice is to put the debian directory in the root of the
source tree. Two people have already told you that there is consensus
in the Debian project in favour of having the debian directory stuff
upstream. People in the Debian project apparently wish to work closer
with the upstream projects.

> 3. It doesn't ship other packaging scripts, such as rpm spec files with
> Debian.

I wouldn't worry about that. There are more than enough packages which
contain RPM spec files in their tree. And that is perfectly fine,
because it can be useful for users who want to roll their own
packages. The same goes for the debian directory. I have never heard
anyone ever complain about the existence of spec files or debian
directory or other files used for packaging. If you want to make
ZeroMQ widely adopted by as many people as possible, then it only
makes sense to put as many different packaging files in the source
tree.

Personally I only install software on my system if it comes in the
form of a package. So if there is no package in debian, and there is
no debian directory, I either create my own packages, or look for
alternative software (or just forget about it). That is why I started
to package ZeroMQ for Debian. Providing package files helps people
like me to adopt software like ZeroMQ.

In other words, I think people are more interested in getting it to
work quickly for them than whether the root directory of the source
tree looks tidy or not. People who use apt-get or yum don't see any of
that at all.

Just my EUR 0.02.

Groetjes,
Peter.