UbuntuPackagingChanges

Purpose of this page: This page lists all the packaging changes that deliberately differ from packaging in Debian.

Table Of Contents

General Changes

Langpacks

Keywords

translations

Affected Packages

All packages with message files (gettext, GSI (OpenOffice.org translations format))

Rationale

Separate all translations for one language in its own set of packages; it should be possible to update translations in stable releases without changing the binary application packages.

Status

Implemented.

Release

Ubuntu 5.04 (hoary) for gettext, Ubuntu 6.06 (dapper) for GSI

Description

See MataroSessionsWorkshops/LanguagePacks for an early specification. UbuntuDevelopment/Internationalisation too.

Instructions

Nothing needs to be done in the source package. To see the effects of stripping the translations, install the pkgbinarymangler for the build of the package (detailed instructions).

Also the package needs to generate a .pot file, so Launchpad Translations has the newest translation templates.

MaintainerFields

Keywords

sources, control file, maintainer

Affected Packages

All packages in main and universe, which are modified (compared to the Debian version)

Rationale

Debian maintainers have expressed discontent about the Maintainer field being unchanged in Ubuntu, because this causes them to be contacted in some situations where they are not the correct point of contact.

Status

Currently being implemented

Release

Target: Ubuntu 7.04 (feisty)

Description

See DebianMaintainerField. Ubuntu discussion: https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2006-December/023032.html Debian Vote: http://master.debian.org/~jeroen/polls/maintainer-field/

Instructions

Follow the instructions in https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2006-December/023032.html; please DO NOT upload packages just changing the maintainer fields. This will be done by automated uploads.

Branding

Keywords

branding, distribution

Affected Packages

All packages in main with a visible distribution name

Rationale

Users should not be misled by distribution names unrelated to Ubuntu

Status

Mostly implemented; needs updating/checking for new packages

Release

Ubuntu 5.04 (hoary), and later

Description

Packages showing the distribution name or logo either in logs, error messages or about dialogs (and similiar) should use the name "Ubuntu"; this name should be used for Kubuntu and Xubuntu as well.

Instructions

Add a patch to the package changing the distribution name. Instead of hardcoding the name, it's better to just reuse the output of "dpkg-vendor --query Vendor".

Desktop related changes

Desktop Files

Keywords

desktop, menu

Affected Packages

packages in main with applications showing up in the desktop menu, which should be hidden by default

Rationale

See MenusRevisited

Status

Implemented.

Release

Ubuntu 6.06 (dapper) or newer

Description

See MenusRevisited

Instructions

Do not delete the .desktop files in those packages, but add an extra line "NoDisplay=True" to the desktop file.

Launchpad Integration

Keywords

launchpad, launchpad-integration, get help, translate

Affected Packages

All Gnome and KDE packages in main that have a menu bar.

Rationale

To provide an easy and straightforward way for users to translate, and access online help from desktop applications.

Status

Obsolete as of Ubuntu 12.10

Release

Ubuntu 5.04 (hoary) until Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

Description

See LaunchpadIntegrationBeforeBOF.

Instructions

See LaunchpadIntegrationBeforeBOF and https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuDevelopment/Internationalisation/Coding#LPI.

Naming of Menu Entries

Keywords

desktop, menu, hig

Affected Packages

Packages in main with desktop entries

Rationale

Have a consistent naming for all menu entries

Status

Mostly implemented

Release

Ubuntu 6.06 (dapper), and later

Description

http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/2.0/desktop-integration.html#desktop-application-menu

Instructions

Change the desktop files and dependent files (generated .pot and .po files).

Server (non-desktop) related changes

lsb_* functions in initscripts

XXX Needs update for upstart.

Keywords

startup scripts, upstart, init, boot messages

Affected Packages

All packages in main displaying messages in their startup and shutdown scripts

Rationale

The lsb_* functions display on the console as well as on the frame buffer used for the startup

Status

Release

Description

Instructions

Library Dependencies

Keywords

Affected Packages

Rationale

Status

Release

Description

Instructions

Common SSL Certificates

Keywords

server, ssl, certificates

Affected Packages

All server packages which can work with SSL certificates

Rationale

Allow a set of supported packages to work with the same SSL certificate

Status

Implemented.

Release

Ubuntu 6.06 (dapper)

Description

See ServerCandy.

Instructions

Not really documented; see the packages mentioned in ServerCandy.

Template

Keywords

Affected Packages

Rationale

Status

Release

Description

Instructions

UbuntuPackagingChanges (last edited 2012-08-21 20:54:40 by jbicha)