--- Manoj Srivastava <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > If the maintainer does not know C/C++, then they really have > no business packaging a C/C++ programme. Debian is supposed to be > more than a repository of everything out there (or a cool email > address). It is also supposed to be about quality. If you do not > understand the language your package is written in, it is highly > unlikely your stewardship of that package is goging to be anything > but mediocre. > > I would hope most developers would realize this, and do the > right thing > > manoj
I'm sorry manoj, I don't agree with you there. Surely the maintainer is there to ensure that the program in its existing state is packaged and can be installed on a computer correctly, and to work as it should. This means configuration issues should be a maintainer's biggest issue they must deal with. The debugging of a package's program is not solely the responsibility of the maintainer, rather in the Linux(and others)/GNU arena, the user is the one who takes responsibility for the program's actual performance. If a maintainer cannot debug a program, he can simply redirect issues upstream. NOTE that i'm not saying 'if he can't program in that language', sometimes even experienced C/C++ programmers cannot easily debug a large program (eg: TeX, X, lesstif, linuxkernels), and must not be held responsible. I speak from the point of view of a C/C++ programmer who likes to debug programs, but does not like trying to figure out debian's packaging system. Stick with what you know, and assist the community where you can. Paul __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices. http://auctions.yahoo.com/