Subject: gclcvs: Debconf abuse
From: "Jean-Luc Coulon (f5ibh)" <[email-masked]>
To: Debian Bug Tracking System <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 09:51:53 +0200

Package: gclcvs
Severity: normal

Hi,

I got the pot file to translate the debconf templates.

I've some remarks about the debconf templates to ease translator work.

- Most of the text in the first template shouldnt be there but better in a
README.Debian or somewhere in the doc tree of the package (historical data about
gcl).

Please refer to:
http://www.debian.org/doc/developers-reference/ch-best-pkging-practices.en.html#s6.5.1

6.5.1 Do not abuse debconf

Since debconf appeared in Debian, it has been widely abused and several
criticisms received by the Debian distribution come from debconf abuse with the
need of answering a wide bunch of questions before getting any little thing
installed.

Keep usage notes to what they belong: the NEWS.Debian, or README.Debian file.
Only use notes for important notes which may directly affect the package
usability. Remember that notes will always block the install until confirmed or
bother the user by email.

Carefully choose the questions priorities in maintainer scripts. See
debconf-devel(7) for details about priorities. Most questions should use medium
and low priorities. 

- The boolean short descriptions should be written as questions according to:
http://www.debian.org/doc/developers-reference/ch-best-pkging-practices.en.html#s6.5.4

6.5.4.2.2 Boolean templates

    * The short description should be phrased in the form of a question which
    should be kept short and should generally end with a question mark. Terse
    writing style is permitted and even encouraged if the question is rather
    long (remember that translations are often longer than original versions)

Best regards

Jean-Luc

-- System Information:
Debian Release: testing/unstable
  APT prefers unstable
  APT policy: (900, 'unstable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
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