Patch systems in packages

[Phillip Susi]

Emmet Hikory wrote:
>     I am not advocating the storage of patches in the diff.gz, as I
> believe that this makes the package awkward to extend when Ubuntu
> seeks to add patches: I'd much prefer that each package have a patch
> system.  I understand that for work in Debian, using a VCS in place of
> a patch system can be easier, but it's certainly not easier for
> derivatives, especially for patches that do not belong back in Debian.

Agreed.

>  Rather I am arguing against the introduction of a patch system in
> Ubuntu for packages that maintain patches in the diff.gz in Debian
> except in the rare case where there is such a vast separation in the
> Ubuntu and Debian packaging that it becomes easier to apply Debian
> patches by reviewing debdiffs between Debian packages rather than
> either using the merge tools or rebasing packaging off the Debian
> package each time.
> 
> 1: https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/intrepid-changes/2008-August/005755.html

Sounds like we are in agreement in principal; we just disagree exactly 
where to draw the line.  I'd rather get the pain of adding the patch 
system over sooner so it doesn't grow worse when I have to do it later. 
  Also if debian is using a VCS then it becomes fairly easy to pull the 
patches from their VCS and merge them into our VCS or patch system, 
rather than trying to do a hand merge between the two .diff.gz files.