#1031902 dh-python: Generate cpython3_fallback during build

Package:
dh-python
Source:
dh-python
Submitter:
Corey Bryant
Date:
2023-02-25 21:39:03 UTC
Severity:
normal
Tags:
#1031902#5
Date:
2023-02-24 20:48:54 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Maintainer,

dh-python is synced to Ubuntu and therefore Ubuntu inherits the manually
generated cpython3_fallback file. This file appears to be generated on Debian,
as expected. However, if it is generated on Ubuntu, the contents will differ.
I've attached the Ubuntu delta (it is not a patch) just for reference.

Would you object to generating cpython3_fallback on the fly during the package
build? If so I'm happy to submit a patch.

Thanks for considering.

Corey
#1031902#10
Date:
2023-02-24 21:12:28 UTC
From:
To:
Generating these files requires network so it cannot be enabled on
Debian. Dunno what policy Ubuntu has in that regard but I added --ubuntu
option for ./pydist/generate_fallback_list.py - let me know if Contents
URL needs an update, BTW
#1031902#15
Date:
2023-02-24 21:35:24 UTC
From:
To:
Ah, I didn't realize it needed network. Thanks for checking.
#1031902#20
Date:
2023-02-25 21:34:53 UTC
From:
To:
Hi Corey (2023.02.24_20:48:54_+0000)
really like the idea of pulling apt-file data during a build. (There was
some misunderstanding about exactly how dh-python does this, of
course...)

I'd say the main concerns are:
1. Guarantees of Contents.gz availability.
2. Guarantees of reproducibility. I guess we'd have to merge between all
   configured apt suites. But there is no guarantee that a build chroot
   will have a correctly configured apt.

Some other options we could consider:
1. Including Ubuntu data when we build pydist. Assuming there are only
   additions, not different packages providing the same python module...
2. Building a separate Ubuntu pydist, and selecting the appropriate one
   to install, at build time.

SR