Bug#684070: libxml-libxml-perl: lack of error handling in build process means that if there is a problem broken packages are built (rather than a build failure)

[gregor herrmann]

On Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:43:17 +0100, peter green wrote:

Thanks for your bug report!

> make[1]: Entering directory `/«BUILDDIR»/libxml-libxml-perl-2.0001+dfsg'
> SKIP_SAX_INSTALL=1 dh_auto_configure
> enable native perl UTF8
> running xml2-config...ok (2.8.0)
> system call to 'make test OTHERLDFLAGS=' failed at Makefile.PL line 508.
> looking for -lxml2... no
> system call to 'make test OTHERLDFLAGS=' failed at Makefile.PL line 508.
> libxml2, zlib, and/or the Math library (-lm) have not been found.
> Try setting LIBS and INC values on the command line
> Or get libxml2 from
>   http://xmlsoft.org/
> If you install via RPMs, make sure you also install the -devel
> RPMs, as this is where the headers (.h files) are.
> 
> Also, you may try to run perl Makefile.PL with the DEBUG=1 parameter
> to see the exact reason why the detection of libxml2 installation
> failed or why Makefile.PL was not able to compile a test program.

Here we go: Makefile.PL, lines 326 ff:

# -------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
# test if the libraries are really installed!
unless (have_library("xml2") or have_library("libxml2")) {
    print STDERR <<"DEATH";
libxml2, zlib, and/or the Math library (-lm) have not been found.
Try setting LIBS and INC values on the command line
Or get libxml2 from 
  http://xmlsoft.org/
If you install via RPMs, make sure you also install the -devel
RPMs, as this is where the headers (.h files) are.

Also, you may try to run perl Makefile.PL with the DEBUG=1 parameter
to see the exact reason why the detection of libxml2 installation
failed or why Makefile.PL was not able to compile a test program.
DEATH
exit 0; # 0 recommended by http://cpantest.grango.org (Notes for CPAN Authors)
}
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------- #

I'm not sure I share this recommendation (for Debian) ...

> The failure to configure successfully is a raspbian specific issue* which we
> have dealt with locally. However package build systems should not behave
> like this. If configuration fails it should cause the package build
> to fail, not
> carry on regardless and build a broken package.

Ack.
 

Cheers,
gregor

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