Package: debian-policy
Followup-For: Bug #758234
I'd like to suggest the following Policy change to fix the
"depend on packages with lower dependencies" non-problem.
This does simplify current practice, but unfortunately not Policy itself,
as adhering to policy shouldn't allow you to break debootstrap. :-P
diff --git a/policy.sgml b/policy.sgml
index 6eac491..f97ef10 100644
--- a/policy.sgml
+++ b/policy.sgml
@@ -868,10 +868,21 @@ zope.
</p>
<p>
- Packages must not depend on packages with lower priority
- values (excluding build-time dependencies). In order to
- ensure this, the priorities of one or more packages may need
- to be adjusted.
+ Packages may depend on other packages with lower priority values.
+ These other packages, or their dependencies, must not conflict with
+ another higher-priority package.<footnote>
+ Debian does not require its base-system installation scripts to
employ a
+ full-featured dependency resolver; this rule ensures that "install
+ all <tt>important</tt> packages and their open dependencies" works
+ and results in a consistent and bootable system.
+ </footnote>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ This restriction does not apply to packages of priority
+ <tt>optional</tt> or lower. It applies transitively.
+ It does not apply if a dependency is already satisfied by another
+ higher-priority package. If alternative dependencies are used,
+ it only applies to the first alternative(s).
</p>
</sect>
@@ -9992,11 +10003,10 @@ name ["<var>syshostname</var>"]:
any package dependencies necessary to satisfy their
runtime requirements when using the X Window System. If
such a package is of higher priority than the X packages
- on which it depends, it is required that either the
+ on which it depends, it is recommended that either the
X-specific components be split into a separate package, or
that an alternative version of the package, which includes
- X support, be provided, or that the package's priority be
- lowered.
+ X support, be provided.
</p>
</sect1>
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