Package: debian-policy Version: 3.8.4.0 Severity: normal Hi,
Debian Policy 8.6 'Dependencies between the library and other packages - the shlibs system' seems seriously out of date as it makes no mentioning of symbols files at all. Other than the lack of documentation of the superior system I find the following sentence problematic: | Thus, when a package is built which contains any shared libraries, | it must provide a shlibs file for other packages to use, ... A package that provides a symbols file but no shlibs file is fully functional but would violate a MUST directive. Providing a shlibs file as well as symbols just duplicates information needlessly (and then maintainer will forget to change one when they change the other) and not every library can be entered in shlibs as it requires a specific SOVERSION pattern. Symbols files on the other hand match the full SONAME and have no such restriction. Point being symbols file are a superset of shlibs feature wise and policy should mention them and allow their use instead (or in combination with if wanted) shlibs file. MfG Goswin -- System Information: Debian Release: squeeze/sid APT prefers unstable APT policy: (500, 'unstable') Architecture: amd64 (x86_64) Kernel: Linux 2.6.31.6-xen-2010.02.18 (SMP w/4 CPU cores) Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=de_DE (charmap=ISO-8859-1) Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash debian-policy depends on no packages. debian-policy recommends no packages. Versions of packages debian-policy suggests: ii doc-base 0.9.5 utilities to manage online documen -- no debconf information -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-devel-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20100713075819.5803.10172.report...@frosties.localdomain