[pkg-php-pear] RFP: php-spreadsheet-excel-writer -- PEAR package for generating Excel spreadsheet.

[Bekir Dogan]

Hi;

On Sat, Nov 19, 2011 at 10:30, Thomas Goirand <thomas at goirand.fr> wrote:
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> On the RFS, it is mentioned the package is under LGPL. I also had a look
> at the source code, and indeed, it's really released under LGPL (there's
> the license header on each files). So I don't think there's any
> licensing issue here.

Licensing issues may be related to OLE, the dependent pear package
which is also not packed in Debian also. I don't have any idea about PHP license
and DFSG compliance.

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> The fact that it's written "beta" doesn't mater. What maters is if the
> upstream code is well maintained or not. Unfortunately, that doesn't
> seem to be the case. There has been no release since 2009, and there's
> 57 open bugs. Having open bugs isn't an issue in itself, but having zero
> reply from upstream in these bug reports *IS VERY* problematic. On top
> of that, we are dealing here with some undocumented output (there's no
> specification for the Excel format).

I haven't looked all those problem reports in pear bug tracking system,
the package seems like have not been maintaining for a long time.

> So, if I was you, I would first try to ping upstream author about these
> issues, see if he replies, and ask why these bug reports received no
> care at all in a so long time.
>
> If these aren't addressed, then I don't think it's reasonable to package
> this PEAR module in Debian.

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> Do you think you'll have also the ability to maintain upstream source
> code as well? If so, then there's no problem having this package in
> Debian once all the bugs in the pear.php.net website have at least been
> answered.

I don't have Windows in my home nor job and I don't think I can maintain the
upstream or I have enough motivation to test and resolve many Windows (Excel)
related issues.

Thank you for your detailed reply, it is an educational reply for me about
Debian approach to making packages.

> Cheers,
>
> Thomas Goirand (zigo)