Q: I want to get a patch / an updated package into Ubuntu - what do I need to bear in mind? A: Make use of our Sponsorship Process. What does that mean? Basically you either file a bug report or follow up on an existing one, attach your patch (or the new source package - you can link to it too), subscribe ubuntu-universe-sponsors or ubuntu-main-sponsors and our team of reviewers will check it out and give you feedback - once it’s all good, they’ll upload it for you....
Q: Can I modify Ubuntu bugs (in Launchpad) by email? A: Yes, https://help.launchpad.net/Bugs/EmailInterface is an extensive guide about modifying bug reports via mail. As long as your mail is signed, you can to almost anything. Q: What do I need to bear in mind when requesting a sync? A: A sync request will effectively overwrite all changes that were made in Ubuntu. Therefore you not only need to make sure, that the new Debian package builds, installs and runs nicely, but also:...
Q: I get a lot of Bug mail - what do I do about it? A: Launchpad Bug mails contain the X-Launchpad-Message-Rationale header. Check out Bugs/HowToFilter to see how to best filter it. Q: I tend to often answer roughly the same when replying in bug reports. Did nobody ever think of using something like stock replies? A: We did. Check out Bugs/Responses also try using Séb’s greasemonkey script. Q: I’d like to write a script that extracts information from Launchpad Bugs - how do I do it?...
Q: To contribute do I need to run the current development release? A: It’s the only way to guarantee your fixes and packages build and work as expected in the development release that is currently being worked on. UbuntuDevelopment/UsingDevelopmentReleases explains how to do this in a safe way. Q: I’d like to meet with a couple of friends to have a go at fixing a few bugs. Do you have suggestions how to best do that?...
Q: I have written a patch for Ubuntu, how can I forward it to Debian too? A: Take a look at these two pages: _Make sure that it really applies to Debian too: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuPackagingChanges has a list of changes that are deliberately different in Ubuntu. _ _Check out https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/ReportingToDebian and find out how to use submittodebian (in the ubuntu-dev-tools package) to forward it to debbugs. _ Q: What do Ubuntu developers look like?...
Q: Somebody told me that I’m not allowed to change the .orig.tar.gz tarball and that it should be identical to the one that is used upstream. I have a real need for it, how do I do it right? A: Check out this chapter in the PackagingGuide. It has extensive information on how to do it right including side-cases and solutions. Q: Do you have some kind of example package that I can try to learn from?...
Q: I know about Packaging myself, but want to show others in my area how cool it is and how it works. Is there any material available? A: _We call these events “Packaging Jams”. Organisational information is available on the wiki, also find Hands On Material on the wiki (derived from the PackagingGuide). Take it away to your university, class, LUG or some friends on your block. Enjoy! :-) _...
Q: I want to maintain a package, what do I need to do as the maintainer? A: Quoting from UbuntuDevelopment/FAQ: You will take care of the package’s bugs. It makes sense if you are bug contact for that package in Launchpad. You will liaise with upstream. You track what’s going on upstream. You will try to build a good communication to the upstream developers. You will find out how to fix bugs appropriately....
Here goes another round of “Ask MOTU” questions and answers. Q: I want to build , but don’t have to have lots of useless development packages on my system. What do I do? A: Checkout PbuilderHowto or DebootstrapChroot. pbuilder is a tool that will build a minimal environment for every source package you give it, just containing build-essential plus the packages specified in Build-Depends. Also it’s a great way to find out if you got the Build-Depends right....
Similar to Ask Asa I’d like to kick off Ask MOTU, where we’ll regularly answer common questions to the MOTU team. Q: I packaged a software, that’s not in Ubuntu yet, how do I get it included in Ubuntu? A: Quoting from wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuDevelopment/NewPackages: When you start to work on a new package, assign the needs-packaging bug to yourself and set it In Progress (if there is no needs-packaging bug, file one)....