[maemo-developers] [maemo-developers] extras repository

[From: Frantisek Dufka]

Marius Gedminas wrote:
> Even if there are no autobuilders I would still want to enforce the
> requirement for having proper Debian source packages for everything that
> is distributed from Garage.

I know there is good reason for that (so everybody can rebuild it) but 
this puts additional burden to package maintainers. I just uploaded 
scummvm binary deb but have to remove it if this is requirement. I don't 
have time to package also tremor, libmad and limbpeg so you can rebuild 
it properly. Also scummvm build process currently crashes with internal 
compiler error in Kyrandia engine and one file must be build with 
different compiler flags by hand. I know this is specific issue (which 
will probably go away with next compiler) but still there are the 
dependencies and others may have other reasons why rebuilding directly 
from source doesn't work or isn't easy.

But still source deb requirement is reasonable if the repository is 
meant for developers and not primarily for end users for easy 
instalation from one source. As a developer I would like to have such 
complete repository with all sources and their dependencies so if we 
agree on this I can keep scummvm elsewhere until I or someone else will 
package those dependencies (which would be useful).

BTW, as a debian maintainer newbie I find instructions here
http://maemo.org/maemowiki/ExtrasRepository
not sufficient. Would be nice to explain more how to create gpg key 
(maybe even additional ssh identity) and provide maemo specific 
practical suggestions related to:

- create extra (gpg,ssh) identity for maemo or not?
- gpg key lenght, key expiration time
- what specific fields should be in debian/control or source .dsc file
- should I use original source plus diff or directly my modified source 
(if source deb is requirement)?

I guess there are more maemo developers who doesn't use debian as their 
primary system so are a bit confused with such relatively advanced 
debian stuff.

Even links to specific documentation on debian.org (including specific 
chapters) would be useful.

Also please make scratchbox rootstraps (even the armel one) 
debian-developer-complete so I can debsign and upload it from scratchbox 
directly. Currently signing fails with

gpg: protection algorithm 3 is not supported
gpg: skipped "...": unknown cipher algorithm
gpg: [stdin]: clearsign failed: unknown cipher algorithm

and dput is not available.

Both is for 2.0, sorry if this was already fixed in 2.1.

Frantisek