Bug#786340: maven-debian-helper: Switching from CDBS to DH build system in initial mh_make templates

[Markus Koschany]

Package: maven-debian-helper
Version: 1.6.11
Severity: wishlist

Hi,

I already tried to start a discussion about switching the default
build system in mh_make templates to DH.

https://lists.debian.org/debian-java/2015/05/msg00037.html

I agree that cdbs is a sufficient and good build system for simple
Maven based packages. Nevertheless I think dh's features are superior
and there are other things which should be taken into consideration:

 * dh is the most used build system in Debian. Switching the default
   to dh makes it easier for newcomers to contribute new packages or
   to update existing ones because they can possibly re-use their
   existing packaging skills for Java software too.

 * dh's overriding mechanism is superior and more flexible. Especially
   if you have to deal with any all source packages, a lot of symlinks
   or other customizations, dh provides logical override targets and a
   plethora of options.

 * I believe that we should focus on one build system for team
   maintained packages which simplifies the packaging process in the
   long run. There will be common problems, but also common solutions
   and people will benefit from synergy effects.

 * A default debian/rules template is even shorter and we could avoid
   the build-dependency on cdbs :)


export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/default-java

%:
       dh $@ --parallel --buildsystem=maven


get-orig-source:
       uscan --download-current-version --force-download --no-symlink


There seems to be only one blocker. Cleaning doesn't always work as
intended with dh. Emmanuel has already provided a patch for debhelper.
I will mark his bug as a blocking bug for this one.

https://bugs.debian.org/785811

More feedback is appreciated

Regards,

Markus



-- System Information:
Debian Release: stretch/sid
  APT prefers unstable
  APT policy: (500, 'unstable'), (1, 'experimental')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)

Kernel: Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64 (SMP w/2 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=en_GB.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_GB.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash
Init: unable to detect

Versions of packages maven-debian-helper depends on:
ii  default-jdk                     2:1.7-52
ii  libmaven-clean-plugin-java      2.5-1
ii  libmaven-compiler-plugin-java   2.5.1-1
ii  libmaven-jar-plugin-java        2.4-1
ii  libmaven-resources-plugin-java  2.3-8
ii  libmaven-site-plugin-java       2.1-3
ii  libplexus-velocity-java         1.1.8-1
ii  libsurefire-java                2.10-5
ii  maven-repo-helper               1.8.9
ii  maven2                          2.2.1-25
ii  velocity                        1.7-4

maven-debian-helper recommends no packages.

Versions of packages maven-debian-helper suggests:
ii  apt-file                      2.5.4
ii  devscripts                    2.15.4
ii  libmaven-javadoc-plugin-java  2.9.1-2
ii  subversion                    1.8.10-6

-- no debconf information