[tor-bugs] #26848 [Core Tor/sbws]: Create Debian package for sbws

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#26848: Create Debian package for sbws
---------------------------+-------------------------------------
 Reporter:  juga           |          Owner:  juga
     Type:  defect         |         Status:  assigned
 Priority:  Medium         |      Milestone:  sbws 1.0 (MVP must)
Component:  Core Tor/sbws  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal         |     Resolution:
 Keywords:                 |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:  #25925         |         Points:
 Reviewer:                 |        Sponsor:
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Comment (by micah):

 Replying to [comment:19 irl]:
 >
 > When I followed up on the ITP with an extended description for the
 binary package, I realised that this is not only useful to directory
 authorities but may also be useful to those running test networks for
 research. I think on that basis this package would be suitable for
 inclusion in Debian as it's not limited to only the dirauths in its
 usefulness.

 If sbws is put into Debian, its likely that directory authorities are
 going to end up installing a newer version of the package from the deb.tpo
 package repositories. This is what we do now for core tor because the
 versions available in stable repositories are often too out of date for
 what the network requires. The ability to have a more rapid release cycle
 has been cited as a reason to have things on deb.tpo.

 If the above are all true, then putting sbws into Debian itself will only
 target those people who may want to use sbws for research. I'm uncertain
 if a version of sbws that is in the stable repository for several years
 will be useful for researchers, especially if there is an idea that there
 might be a 'rapid release cycle'. I'd think that researchers would be
 interested in the latest version of the code, and not a version that is
 'stable' (read: several years old). They can get that via the git
 repository, or via deb.tpo.

 All of the above makes me think that the best way forward for sbws, at
 least for the near term, is to get it packaged first for deb.tpo, and then
 evaluate after that is done and has been there for a while if it makes
 sense to put it into Debian itself. Because it will already be a package,
 the hardest part will already be done.

 Also, if there are library dependencies that aren't in Debian, those
 should be updated/packaged and put into Debian proper!

 Regarding the name, I think the idea of putting a "tor-" prefix on the
 package name doesn't make too much sense to me, I have not been convinced
 that this is necessary, or even desirable. Especially when the short/long
 description can be made to make it obvious what this is for.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/26848#comment:23>
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