Simon McVittie wrote:
> Package: nspark
> Version: 1.7.8B2+git20210317.cb30779-1
> Severity: normal
> X-Debbugs-Cc: debian-l10n-engl...@lists.debian.org
Well, it reached me, but the BTS etc. don't seem to be sure whether
the package exists...
# A rewritten version of RISC OS !Spark for UNIX
#
# nspark is a rewritten version of !Spark for UNIX. The original
# version of !Spark (sometimes known as "cark") was based upon the
# BASIC program "bark", written by David Pilling.
This seems to be saying that Bark was written by Pilling but Spark
wasn't. Other sources tell me they both were (and show no sign of
anyone referring to Spark as cark), but it's unclear why users would
want these details anyway. Put it in /usr/share/doc/nspark/
somewhere!
> This package's Description says it's a rewrite of RISC OS !Spark, but
> doesn't give any clue as to what that means for people who don't already
> know what RISC OS !Spark did.
>
> According to its Github page, it seems to be an unarchiver (analogous
> to unzip) for a specific archive format mainly used on RISC OS? If so,
> saying so in the Description would be helpful.
>
> The lhasa, unzip, unrar and unrar-free packages' descriptions might provide
> useful inspiration for what a clearer Description might look like.
Oh, is this another one for my collection of packages where the prefix
"n-" stands for "new thirty years ago"?
My suggestion:
# de-archiver for !Spark archives
#
# nspark ("new spark") supports extracting files from Spark 1 and 2 or
# ArcFS archives. It is a cross-platform rewrite of David Pilling's
# original !Spark for RISC OS.
(assuming I'm interpreting the manual correctly).
--
JBR with qualifications in linguistics, experience as a Debian
sysadmin, and probably no clue about this particular package
