[syslinux] Debian packaging: newest git version?

[Ady Ady]

> Hi,
> 
> I'm considering packaging syslinux from your git repository (topmost
> commit "ext4: Fix 64bit feature") for Debian.
> 
> Currently syslinux version 6.03 is packaged, but the patch queue is
> quite large (18 patches at the moment, mostly cherry-picked from your
> git repository).  I think updating has advantages:
> * I can drop most of the patches, making it easier to deal with issues
>   (less likely they were introduced in Debian)
> * Your git version gets a bit of testing
> 
> Since this decision will sooner or later affect a few distributions I
> wanted to ask:  Do you think that's a good idea or would you prefer I
> package 6.04-pre1 instead?  Some other distributions, like Fedora do
> that and it will still allow me to drop quite a few patches.
> 
> Thanks for your advise
> Lukas
 
 
Fedora's Syslinux package has been (partially) broken for a very long 
time, even when its bug tracker contains the required patches. It is 
not a coincidence that other RPM-based distributions have come up with 
their own Syslinux 6.xx packages (instead of basing them on Fedora's).

So, Fedora doesn't seem to be a "good" benchmark / parameter / guidance 
regarding Syslinux packaging at this time.

While I am writing this, 6.04-pre1 is more than 19 months old, with 
around 20 (or so) relevant commits pushed after it.

Talking about proposed patches from Debian, a few days ago Gene wrote:

 "I'll try to get to these soon" 

Debian's Syslinux package is also using a gnu-efi version more recent 
than upstream Syslinux.

I would like to see these proposed patches evaluated, and, if 
appropriate, incorporated in Syslinux; then I'd like to see an update 
to the gnu-efi submodule in Syslinux (there is really no point in 
delaying this); and then a new Syslinux 6.04-pre2.

FWIW, my suggestion / wish: upstream Syslinux performing the 
aforementioned actions, then releasing 6.04-pre2, and then Debian could 
have a "6.04-pre2", or "6.04-0.1" (or "0.2" if you want) or similar.

Regards,
Ady.