Bug#1016992: libdbd-oracle-perl: Built against unsupported Oracle Instant Client 12.1

[Daniel Lewart]

Package: libdbd-oracle-perl
Version: 1.80-3
Severity: normal

Debian Perl Group,

OIC = Oracle Instant Client

libdbd-oracle-perl has been built against OIC 12.1
since version 1.66-1 (Aug 30, 2013).

Oracle's "Release Schedule of Current Database Releases":
  https://support.oracle.com/knowledge/Oracle%20Database%20Products/742060_1.html
says "Patching End Dates" are:
  * 12.1 - Jul 31, 2022
  * 19c  - Apr 30, 2024
  * 21c  - Apr 30, 2024

Upstream DBD::Oracle 1.81 introduced support for OIC 21.

Could the following two changes be made?
  1) Import upstream version 1.83
  2) Build against OIC 19c (Version 19.16) or 21c (Version 21.7)

However, two problems remain:
  1) Bookworm will be supported well beyond Apr 30, 2024
  2) Oracle may release higher 19.xx and 21.x versions

Perhaps the only solution is for the user to build from source?

Thank you!
Daniel Lewart
Urbana, Illinois