Andreas Tille

Dealing with Dormant Packages: Ensuring Debian’s High Standards

Through the Bug of the Day effort, I have noticed a significant number of packages that have not been uploaded for a long time. In most cases, the maintainer is unresponsive to ITS bug reports or other attempts to reach them. Currently, we have three main options for handling such situations:

1. The MIA process
2. ITS (Intent to Salvage)
3. NMUs (Non-Maintainer Uploads)

However, these mechanisms are not always sufficient to uphold Debian’s high-quality standards. In this BoF, I want to discuss potential improvements to our approach, based on conversations during DebCamp, and explore additional strategies to better maintain package quality in Debian.

Package Acceptance in Debian: Challenges and Opportunities

Building on the “Meet the FTP Team” BoF at DebConf24 in Busan, this session aims to foster a constructive discussion on how we can work together to streamline and modernize Debian’s archive processes. Many Debian Developers have expressed interest in improving efficiency, reducing bottlenecks, and ensuring our workflows remain sustainable as the project evolves.

This BoF is an opportunity to explore ideas in a collaborative and solution-oriented manner. The goal is not to criticize but to find common ground and identify practical steps forward. Ideally, we would have participation from FTP team members, whether in person or via Jitsi, to ensure that all perspectives are considered.

Bits from the DPL

It’s been an interesting experience to serve as DPL. I’d like to share my perspective on the project with the community.

Preparation of "Dealing with Dormant Packages: Ensuring Debian’s High Standards "

All people interested in procedures that enable easier access to packages that seem to be orphaned are kindly invited to join this sprint. The goal is to draft some suggestions that can be presented in the BoF “Dealing with Dormant Packages: Ensuring Debian’s High Standards” to trigger further discussion in the Debian community.

I would like to spent one whole day on this topic.

Reforming ftpmaster team

As I explained in “Bits from DPL in May” I intend to reform the ftpmaster team and the processes. I would love if all people interested in this process would come together in a common sprint to prepare sensible suggestions for the DebConf Bof “Package Acceptance in Debian: Challenges and Opportunities”. I’m explicitly seeking for candidates for a future DFSG team which should be responsible for accepting new packages as well as the Archive team which will be responsible for the Debian infrastructure and releases.

I would like to spent a whole day on it.