Re: [Refdb-devel] RefDB-perlmod packaged as refdb-lib

[David N. <dav...@sw...>]

Hi St=E9phane,

> I think it would be consistent to name your package=20
> libperl-refDB-perlmod instead of refdb-lib, to be in agreement with=20
> debian policy (to tell the thrut, i don't know what is the correct=20
> policy for perl modules in debian).

Section 4.2 of the Debian Perl Policy ('Module Package Names', accessed=20
at=20
<http://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/perl-policy/ch-module_packag=
es.html>),=20
states:

    "Perl module packages should be named for the primary module
    provided. The naming convention for module Foo::Bar is
    libfoo-bar-perl. Packages which include multiple modules may
    additionally include provides for those modules using the same
    convention."

If one were to apply this naming scheme to RefDB-perlmod the result=20
would 'librefdb-perlmod-perl'.  Because of the repeated text string=20
'perl' this name would be faintly ridiculous.  In any event, the name=20
'refdb-perlmod' does not reflect any of the modules inside the=20
distribution -- it is simply a name Markus selected to call his=20
collection of modules.

The policy claims the deb package should be based on the name of the=20
primary module.  In my opinion you cannot select one of the modules in=20
the RefDB-perlmod archive as a primary one.  They each serve a unique,=20
important function.  In my opinion, therefore, the Policy does not apply =

to the naming of this package.  I considered myself free to pick a=20
meaningful name and believe I have done so.

This package could be viewed as a library and so I could have called it=20
'librefdb'.  I did not for two reasons: it is not a real library in the=20
common use of the term, and I wanted the refdb packages to appear close=20
together in package managers (i.e., the alphabetical order).

Incidentally, you may have noticed my naming of the libperl-term-clui=20
package violates section 4.2 of the Debian Perl Policy.  The trend to=20
name packages 'libperl-foo-bar' rather than 'libfoo-par-perl' is one=20
that has become increasingly popular.  In my opinion it is easy to see=20
why -- it is much easier to extract the package name from a quick glance =

since the major parts of the module name are separated by hyphens.

Regards,
David.