Date: Wed, 21 Sep 94 11:53 BST
From: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson)
To: debian-devel@pixar.com
Subject: Changes to the Packaging Guidelines

Ian Murdock writes ("New guidelines - status"):
> [...]
> All packages uploaded hereafter must comply with the newest
> Guidelines.  Packages already uploaded for inclusion in Debian 0.93
> need not be updated, but doing so is strongly encouraged.  Packages
> for Debian 0.94 will have to follow the new Guidelines, so you might
> as well update them now.

Here is a list of changes from the most recently promulgated
guidelines (those of the 25th of July):

* `install' debian.rules target no longer required.
* Instructions added for making several *.deb's from one source tree.
* Description of the semantics of DEPENDS, OPTIONAL etc. added.
* Version number format specified and PACKAGE_REVISION field added.
* Man page section numbers restricted to digits 1 to 9 (see FSSTND).
* Files uploaded to FTP sites now contain more version number info.
* Binary package files no longer have to have MSDOS 8+3 filenames.
* Context diffs no longer have `debian' in the filename.
* ldconfig must be called by postinst and prerm if required.
* install-info should be called in prerm to deinstall removed files.
* postinst/prerm must return exit status and probably need `set -e'.
* postinst/prerm should be quiet if possible.
* install-info should be given the --quiet option in postinst/prerm.
* Must ask imurdock before using unusual users or groups.
* Scripts must have #! line.
* Explained more clearly where to refer to Perl when.
* Other debian.rules targets are explicitly allowed.
* /usr/doc/copyright/* must contain all authorship info from original.
* Don't compress /usr/doc/copyright/*.
* Set-id binaries should be readable (ie 4755, 2755 or 6755).
* Installation of cat pages more strongly prohibited.
* Minor wording changes, typo fixes, email address changes, etc.