[Debian-astro-maintainers] Bug#1023795: Please undo the replace of pgplot with giza-pgplot

[James Cameron]

Hello Ole, seeking to clarify your latest.

My understanding is that pgplot5 is in Debian now under Debian Policy
section 2.2.3, in the non-free archive area.

Also, libpgplot-perl is in Debian now under Debian Policy section
2.2.2, in the contrib archive area for Stretch, and main for later
releases.

So I don't think the license of pgplot is the main problem or indeed a
cause of the problems described here.

The problems can be traced to the changes in libpgplot-perl, so I also
suggest this bug be reassigned to that package.  I agree that you
should reassign it.

I don't think the problems in this bug can be efficiently fixed in
Giza, when compared to the effort required to change libpgplot-perl.

I suggest you change the Giza source package Description from
"drop-in, modern replacement" to "mostly compatible, modern
replacement".  If you'd like another bug for that, let me know.

I agree a license change to pgplot would help, but it hasn't happened
yet.  Let's not make the perfect the enemy of the good.

A risk to Debian is to create an unnecessary derivative distribution
for a substantial group of users.  This group of users has a very slow
deployment cycle, so it can take longer than a Debian release or two
for critical issues to arise.

Thank you for your time on this bug.