Package: debhelper Version: 12.7.1 Severity: wishlist User: debian-cr...@lists.debian.org Usertags: ftcbfs Control: affects -1 + src:baresip
Hi Niels and d-cross@l.d.o, I'm observing a pattern and would like to seek consensus about a change in debhelper's makefile buildsystem. A number of makefiles (not hugely many, but every now and then) detect features from CC or PKG_CONFIG and behave differently not only during the default target but also during the install or clean target. However, only dh_auto_build passes cross tools along. In these cases, one has to explicitly pass CC and/or PKG_CONFIG along or export them as environment variables. Can we fix that more centrally? In debhelper? There are a few caveats here that I'd like to consider before going that route. Some build systems use non-filenames as targets. The absence of the files causes a rebuild during make install. The current debhelper practise has made these cases visible and in such cases, I've usually sent patches fixing up the dependencies. The proposed change would make them invisible again. Another aspect is that some packages use multiple (debhelper) buildsystems and vary them on a per-target basis. Changing the behaviour here bears a small risk for (cross build) regressions. This particular problem seems more relevant to the clean target than the install target though, so we could change only make install as a compromise. What do you think about the general idea and the impact? baresip is a recent example where this is applicable for make install. Helmut
