Chapter 4. Advices to Java packagers

Warning: These are just advices, they are not part of the policy.

  • Be sure to manage all dependencies by hand in debian/control. Debian development tools cannot find them automatically like they do with C programs and libraries (or like dh_perl does it for Perl, a volunteer to write dh_java would be welcome).

  • Many calls in debian/rules can be removed which are meaningless for Java, like dh_strip and dh_shlibdeps.

  • Source package handling is painful, since most Java upstream programs come with .class files. I suggest to make a new .orig tarball after cleaning them, otherwise, dpkg-source will complain.

  • Java properties files are probably better under /etc and flagged as configuration files (this will be integrated in the policy, one day).