On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 06:18:24PM -0700, Russ Allbery wrote: > > File globbing syntax > > --------------------
> > Here is what I think represents the broader consensus from previous > > discussion: > > * **`Files`**: List of space-separated pathnames indicating files that > > have the same licence. Question marks indicate any character and > > asterisks indicate any string of characters. When this field is omitted > > in the first paragraph containing a `License` field, its value will be > > assumed to be '*'. If multiple `Files` declaratioun match the same > > file, then only the last match counts. > I would prefer to use the same syntax as .gitignore, since it already > deals with all of the complicated cases of matching files in particular > paths versus a file by that name anywhere in the tree and does so in a > well-specified way. Is http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/gitignore.html an accurate description of the .gitignore syntax as you understand it? I find several features here that are suboptimal: - Patterns are one per line. While this sidesteps the question of escaping embedded spaces, it also consumes a lot more vertical space, reducing human readability. - I don't think we want to support negation of patterns; any pattern negation could instead be expressed as a separate stanza afterwards that overrides the previous one. - Use of a leading slash to anchor a pathname to the toplevel package directory is an unusual and non-intuitive convention that definitely adds complexity to the implementation of any tools that map Files: globs to the actual files. For my part, I think DEP-5 is already on the right track regarding globbing syntax, but badly needs improvement of the standards language. -- Steve Langasek Give me a lever long enough and a Free OS Debian Developer to set it on, and I can move the world. Ubuntu Developer http://www.debian.org/ slanga...@ubuntu.com vor...@debian.org -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-project-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20100815101048.gb19...@dario.dodds.net