Contributions to universe (Re: Ubuntu mono packages)

[Matt Zimmerman]

On Wed, Sep 22, 2004 at 08:41:11AM +0100, Mark Shuttleworth wrote:

> Matt how would you feel about setting up a procedure where users can
> contribute updated packages for universe / multiverse. They would need to
> have (a) built it on a Warty system, (b) made sure it was clear of known
> security bugs. If nothing else, SOME external review and updating of
> universe / multiverse packages would be better than none.

I think we should have two processes for contributors:

1. Source uploads, under certain conditions and subject to review

2. Requests for importing a new version from Debian unstable, which I think
   we should generally allow if its build-dependencies are met in Warty and
   it builds on Warty architectures in Debian (both of which are
   straightforward to check, and even automatable if we want)

The user needs which have emerged so far for Warty are:

1. "I want foo, but it's not there [doesn't build]"

2. "I want a newer version of foo"

The former need has been met by LaMont providing quick fixes for FTBFS in
universe; he has been able to fix all of the reported breakage of this type
in short order.

I expect that the latter need will be met more effectively by opening Hoary
and providing a moving target for them where they have the latest versions
of everything.  I don't think we need to put much effort into a process for
Warty, because folks who want current versions of everything are not likely
to stick to Warty when it releases anyway.

However, I am more than happy to have new versions from Debian brought into
Warty at this stage in order to fix bugs, because the review process can be
generally automated (e.g., we can verify that it is likely to build
correctly once imported).  However, since we don't yet have a formal
maintainer process, source uploads would need to go through some sort of
review queue, and that will take someone's time away from working on the
release.

My understanding is that these mono packages are a binary build of current
Debian unstable packages for Warty.  I think it would be fine for the new
source package to be imported into Warty and be built by our infrastructure.

-- 
 - mdz