Proposed SRU policy amendment for package removals

[Martin Pitt]

Hello TB,

as discussed in the last meeting, I wanted to put up a proposal for
amending https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates for package
removals like the recent owncloud. Please check that this graps what
we discussed; I'd also appreciate language cleanups.

Thanks!

Martin

== Removals ==

In rare cases, an universe package becomes actively detrimental in stable releases: If it is unmaintained in Ubuntu and has unfixed security issues or got broken because of changing network protocols/APIs, it is better to stop offering it in Ubuntu altogether rather than continuing to encourage users to install it.

It is not technically possible to remove a package from a stable release, but this can be approximated by SRUing an essentially empty package with an appropriate explanation in `NEWS` and a corresponding critical debconf note.

Such a package removal should have an SRU tracking bug with an appropriate explanation, and needs to get confirmed by the [[https://launchpad.net/~techboard|Technical Board]].

Examples: [[https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2007-September/024453.html|tor]], [[https://launchpad.net/bugs/1384355|ownclod]]

-- 
Martin Pitt                        | http://www.piware.de
Ubuntu Developer (www.ubuntu.com)  | Debian Developer  (www.debian.org)
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