[Peter Samuelson] > Source code is a means to an end. The end is the ability of the end > user to customize the software. If you get source code but no way to > build a new .swf file from it, this end is not served.
Also, I'm a proponent of the idea of always building our packages from source - just to make sure we actually _can_, thus preserving the principle above. I think it is a valuable service to the end-user to express the build process using Build-Depends and debian/rules. They don't need to say "OK, I fixed this bug or typo or whatever, now how do I recompile it?" They don't need to wonder whether it's even _possible_ to rebuild what they've changed (without, for example, going out and buying some non-free tool). ...However, my view is a bit controversial; a lot of people think there should be exceptions for certain categories of generated files, like those output by the autotools. I don't see why, except for historical inertia, but there it is. -- 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/20100804222549.gh3...@p12n.org
