[ubuntu-studio-devel] Weekly Reminder of Ubuntu Studio ToMerge packages

[Kaj Ailomaa]

On Mon, Jan 20, 2014, at 11:13 AM, Jimmy Sjölund wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 9:40 AM, Kaj Ailomaa <zequence at mousike.me> wrote:
> 
> >
> > > I don't know how to merge a package but I don't see any changes in Debian
> > > that
> > > Ubuntu would need to worry about.
> >
> > These automated reminders are just for putting attention to packages
> > that need some work before they can be merged, which is something you
> > can get busy with in case you'd like to get more experience in
> > packaging.
> > So, nothing to pay attention to, unless you would like to get more
> > involved in packaging :).
> >
> I would, but every time I start reading up on the link on how to do it I
> get overwhelmed ... :/
> 
> /Jimmy
> -- 
> ubuntu-studio-devel mailing list
> ubuntu-studio-devel at lists.ubuntu.com
> Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-studio-devel

A good first step would be to learn the basics of Debian packaging.
Here's one guide https://wiki.debian.org/IntroDebianPackaging.
A more thorough guide http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/maint-guide/,
and the Debian policy http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/.

It's important to know a couple of things. A debian source package is a
method for building source code and packaging it into a binary package. 
Simply put, what you find inside a source package is the source code for
an application and a "debian" folder.
Inside the debian folder there's a make file (debian/rules), which is
what builds the source. Additionally, there are lots of other files,
like copyright, changelog, control, etc.

In these ToMerge reminders, there is some sort of a conflict between the
Debian version and the Ubuntu version of the source package. Following
the links in the reminder should help point to how to find out. Could be
as simple as a conflicting line in the changelog file.

/Kaj Ailomaa