
The DebParse Perl modules, version 0.1.1
By Thaddeus H. Black <t@b-tk.org>, 7 January 2006

These modules parse and interrelate the Debian archive's
Sources and Packages files, including versioned
dependencies, build dependencies, architecture
limitations, virtual packages, reverse Enhances, correct
sequencing of version numbers, versioned Provides, etc.
The modules go far deeper than
libparse-debian-packages-perl.

This is an alpha release, pursuant to [1].  This alpha
release is suitable for use in Debram development and
probably elsewhere; but as with all alpha software, you
should not be surprised if unexpected trouble arises.
The software is little tested beyond the immediate
context of Debram development, has not been packaged
independently, and lacks proper documentation.  Although
it might prove desirable to package the software some
day, the author lacks concrete plans to do so now.
Under such conditions, early users of the software (if
any) are bound to be pretty sophisticated Debian users,
so while this version is current, the author would
appreciate detailed feedback.  (Incidentally, it is
readily conceded that Perl is not really the right
language for such work.  This is part of the reason the
software is alpha.)

You do not need these modules to install, run, use,
modify, develop, build, package or distribute Debram.
Even if maintaining several branches of the Ramification
or ramifying hundreds of packages, you are likely to
find these modules of little use.  However, if you are
so deep into Debram development that you find a need to
analyze the overall dependency web of the entire Debian
archive, then these modules can really help.

If you are reading the source and want to read from the
low-level modules to the high, it is recommended to read
the source files in the order listed in mod-list.txt.
This is what the author would probably do.  Alternately,
if you prefer to read high to low, read the source files
in the reverse order.

These modules and all the files distributed with them
are free software.  If you have received them as part of
and/or have derived them from a larger software
distribution of the author's (probably debram), then you
may regard them simply as part of the larger
distribution, licensed accordingly.  However, if you
have received them separately, if you prefer them to
stand independently, or if for some other reason the
larger grant does not suit your purpose, then a specific
grant for these modules and files follows.

Copyright (C) 2005-2006  Thaddeus H. Black

  This program is free software; you can redistribute
  it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU
  General Public License, version 2, as published by
  the Free Software Foundation.

  This program is distributed in the hope that it will
  be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General
  Public License for more details.

  You should have received a copy of the GNU General
  Public License with the Debian GNU/Linux
  distribution in file
  /usr/share/common-licenses/GPL-2.  The Free Software
  Foundation, Inc., can be contacted if desired at 59
  Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA

[1] http://lists.alioth.debian.org/pipermail/debtags-devel/2005-August/000767.html

