[Pkg-mozext-maintainers] Bits from the Mozilla Extension Packaging Team

[Mike Hommey]

On Mon, Feb 01, 2010 at 08:34:31PM +0100, Benjamin Drung wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> This mail targets all developers, which maintain Mozilla extensions.
> 
> Source package name
> ===================
> 
> The source package name for extension should not contain the name of the
> enhanced application. These prefixes should be dropped from the source
> name:
> 
> firefox-
> iceape-
> icedove-
> iceweasel-
> mozilla-
> thunderbird-
> 
> If the remaining string is too generic (for example, notify or sage),
> the source package name should append -extension. For example,
> firefoxnotify was renamed to notify-extension.

I don't remember this has been discussed, and i certainly disagree with
this naming scheme. Also, existing extensions sources shouldn't be renamed.

> Binary package name
> ===================
> 
> The Mozilla extension packaging team decided to use xul-ext- (instead of
> mozilla-, iceweasel-, etc.) as prefix for all Mozilla extensions [1].
> This will group the extensions visually. There are currently 18
> extensions that use this naming scheme already. Please rename the binary
> package if not already done.

Note the policy proposal has not been updated with the latest
propositions (for which i was hoping more feedback, btw). See the team
list archives.

> Use mozilla-devscripts
> ======================
> 
> To make packaging extensions dead simple we have mozilla-devscripts. In
> most cases debian/rules can be reduces to three or four lines (shebang,
> two includes and maybe one variable). We highly recommend using it. An
> additional benefit of using mozilla-devscripts is that derived
> distribution can use the source code without modifying it.
> mozilla-devscripts take care of the distributions specialities. The
> usage is explained in the Wiki [2].
>
> Joining our team
> ================
> 
> You are welcome to join our team. We maintain all packages in git in the
> pkg-mozext group. You can contact us via email or IRC [3]. Please let us
> know, if you need help implementing the above mentioned items.
> 
> Work needing package
> ====================
> 
> Here is a list of source package that need to updated. Please let me
> know, if I missed some packages.

I have a lintian check that checks most of the policy, except it was
written before lintian 2.3 and doesn't work anymore. If someone has the
time to update the script before me, I'll send it to them.

Mike