Hi, This whole issue started from the fix to Bug #465661 (m17n-db: binary-without-manpage usr/bin/m17n-db) because m17n-docs is non-free.
The Debian Policy is: http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-docs.html#s12.1 --------------------------------------------------------------- Each program, utility, and function should have an associated manual page included in the same package. --------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-scope.html --------------------------------------------------------------- In the normative part of this manual, the words must, should and may, and the adjectives required, recommended and optional, are used to distinguish the significance of the various guidelines in this policy document. Packages that do not conform to the guidelines denoted by must (or required) will generally not be considered acceptable for the Debian distribution. Non-conformance with guidelines denoted by should (or recommended) will generally be considered a bug, but will not necessarily render a package unsuitable for distribution. Guidelines denoted by may (or optional) are truly optional and adherence is left to the maintainer's discretion. --------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#s-main --------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, the packages in main * must not require a package outside of main for compilation or execution (thus, the package must not declare a "Depends", "Recommends", or "Build-Depends" relationship on a non-main package) --------------------------------------------------------------- The non-conformance of a "should" guideline "will generally be considered a bug". I think we have an exceptional case here where the binaries are Free and in one Debian package but the manpages are currently Non-free and in a separate Debian package, therefore we can *not* use Depends. Ian Jackson's (co-author of Debian Policy) comments: http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/02/msg01026.html --------------------------------------------------------------- I think the point of policy is to ensure the manpage exists, not to require that it be installed. I think Suggests is the right dependency. There is nothing wrong with installing a package without its documentation. --------------------------------------------------------------- cya, # -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
