Bug#1063605: debian-policy: mandate use of `dpkg-buildflags` for all software compilation on Debian

On Tue, Feb 10, 2026 at 10:34:18AM -0800, Russ Allbery wrote:
> Bill Allombert <[email protected]> writes:
> > On Mon, Feb 09, 2026 at 10:40:20AM -0800, Russ Allbery wrote:
> 
> >> For example, if we add new flags for reproducible builds, the packages
> >> that don't use dpkg-buildflags really should pick those up, because
> >> reproducible builds is a general distribution goal. "Should," not
> >> "must," but it feels to me like should is appropriate here.
> 
> > But then tracking Debian policy is sufficient (and mandatory already),
> > so tracking dpkg-buildflags is not needed.
> 
> Hm, am I missing something? I don't see any mention of, e.g.,
> -ffile-prefix-map in Debian Policy. So far as I know, that is tracked
> primarily in dpkg-buildflags.

Reproducible build is required by policy, while -ffile-prefix-map is a mean to
that end, not a goal in itself.

We could update Debian policy to mandate the effect provided by
-ffile-prefix-map (reproducible filename in log) more precisely than just
mandating reproducible build (which is not well-specified in Debian policy).

Cheers,