Summary

This page summarizes information concerning the switch to the new source package formats "3.0 (quilt)" and "3.0 (native)". This switch is planned to happen in the squeeze development cycle.

Advantages of new formats

Implementation

FAQ

How to convert a source package?

You need to put "3.0 (quilt)" or "3.0 (native)" in debian/source/format to indicate the desired format to dpkg-source (see dpkg-source(1) for more information):

mkdir debian/source ; echo '3.0 (quilt)' > debian/source/format ; dch 'Switch to dpkg-source 3.0 (quilt) format'

Native packages should not need any other change.

When you switch to "3.0 (quilt)", there are other changes that you might want to do:

Does a 3.0 (quilt) source package need to build-depend on quilt?

If you drop the quilt usage in debian/rules (patch/unpatch logic), then no.

Is the README.source file needed with 3.0 (quilt) source packages?

No. Since dpkg-source -x applies the patch, you don't have to explain how the patch system works. If lintian gives you the patch-system-but-no-source-readme warning, upgrade to the latest version in sid.

How to use multiple upstream tarball in 3.0 (quilt) format?

Simply put a file  <source>_<version>.orig-<component>.tar.{gz,bz2,lzma}  near the traditional  .orig  tarball. The content of that tarball should also be already unpacked in the  component  subdir of the unpacked source package. The next  dpkg-source -b  will pick it up automatically.

Note: using a dash in the  component  requires dpkg >= 1.14.27, so you can't upload such packages until lenny's 4th point release (Debian 5.0.4).

Why should I convert my package to 3.0 (quilt) format?

Pick the reasons that matter to you:

Will my packages be backportable to etch?

With 3.0 (quilt), backporting to etch is possible if you don't use multiple upstream tarballs.

If this is the case, you can trivially backport by doing the following:

The changes coming from the quilt patches will be in the .diff.gz but it will work.

I get lintian errors and warnings with new source formats

The following warnings are incorrect for the new Debian source formats, and are fixed in the latest Lintian:

You should always use the latest Lintian version from Sid to test your packages.

I converted my package but it fails to build or fails to unpack on all buildds

If you get a failure like:

dpkg-source: info: applying XXXX
1 out of 1 hunk FAILED -- saving rejects to file xxx.rej

You probably have quilt patches that only applies with fuzz (i.e. they only apply if patch ignores context lines). quilt applies those without failing but dpkg-source doesn't. The solution is to refresh the patches, for example with those commands :

quilt pop -a
while quilt push; do quilt refresh -p ab; done

dpkg-dev 1.15.5.3 and later prevent you from building source packages with such patches.

Another problem might be that you converted it to use the "3.0 (quilt)" format but are still using quilt in your debian/rules. The buildd might unpack the source package with an old version of dpkg that does not create quilt's .pc directory. If you then try to apply the patches again they will fail to apply. Until a fixed dpkg is installed everywhere, you should not call quilt during the build process.

Why aren't -p0 patch supported in 3.0 (quilt) format?

See sub-thread starting here.

How many packages have already been converted?

http://upsilon.cc/~zack/stuff/dpkg-v3/

But, how do I actually work with the 3.0 (quilt) format?

To actually take advantage of this new format, see

They explain how to add and edit patches and integrate things in your workflow.

Validation of all tools with new source formats

For all applications, please be sure to test the 3 important cases:

It's also interesting to test with various compressions methods (gz, bz2, lzma).

Some sample source packages are available here. You can add it to /etc/apt/sources.list with deb-src http://people.debian.org/~hertzog/packages/ debsrc3.0/. They have the following characteristics:

Current test results:

Please try using new source packages with all your usual tools (in particular if you maintain them) and file bugs if you encounter problems and usertag them appropriately (user hertzog@debian.org / tag 3.0-quilt-by-default). Also update the list above with any relevant information (including pointers to bugs).


CategorySpec CategoryDebianDevelopment