[PATCH] debianize: set appropriate Standards-Version for each debian suite

[srinuv...@siemens.com]

From: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>

The Standards-Version field in debian/control declares the Debian Policy
version that the package complies with. Currently, the custom source packages
use a hard-coded Standards-Version: 3.9.6, which is obsolete and does not align
with the policies of newer Debian releases

Update the packaging to set the correct Standards-Version dynamically based on
the target Debian suite, ensuring compliance with the appropriate Debian Policy
version for each release.

Signed-off-by: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>
---
meta/classes/debianize.bbclass | 9 ++++++++-
1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
index 1f54e8f9..0d7b804b 100644
--- a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
@@ -83,11 +83,18 @@ deb_create_control[vardeps] += "DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS \
DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT"
deb_create_control() {
# Add Source section
+ case "${BASE_DISTRO_CODENAME}" in
+ buster) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.3.0" ;;
+ bullseye) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.5.1" ;;
+ bookworm) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.6.2" ;;
+ trixie|sid|*) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.7.2" ;;
+ esac
+
cat << EOF > ${S}/debian/control
Source: ${BPN}
Section: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIAN_SECTION')}
Priority: optional
-Standards-Version: 3.9.6
+Standards-Version: ${STANDARDS_VERSION}
Maintainer: ${MAINTAINER}
Build-Depends: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS')}
EOF
--
2.39.5

[Florian Bezdeka]

Hm... But that means that downstream users might end up with a
different standard version for their package after updating isar the
next time.

I'm expecting build failures here and there. Quite sure that not all
packages / recipes out there will fulfill the newer standards.

Maybe add a short note to the API changelog? An available quick fix
would be to overwrite STANDARDS_VERSION in the affected recipes.

[srinuv...@siemens.com]

From: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>

The Standards-Version field in debian/control declares the Debian Policy
version that the package complies with. Currently, the custom source packages
use a hard-coded Standards-Version: 3.9.6, which is obsolete and does not align
with the policies of newer Debian releases

Update the packaging to set the correct Standards-Version dynamically based on
the target Debian suite, ensuring compliance with the appropriate Debian Policy
version for each release.

Signed-off-by: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>
---

RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md | 7 +++++++
meta/classes/debianize.bbclass | 14 ++++++++++++--
2 files changed, 19 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md b/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
index cf04fa5c..bb5f9b9c 100644
--- a/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
@@ -242,6 +242,13 @@ consumption by imaging classes.
Additional build dependencies of auto-debianized packages can now be defined
by setting DEBIAN_BUILD_DEPENDS.

+### Add STANDARDS_VERSION as a deb_debianize parameter
+
+By default, the Standards-Version field in the debian/control file is automatically
+set based on the corresponding Debian suite.
+If you need to override this default value, you can do so by defining
+the STANDARDS_VERSION variable in your recipe.
+
### Separation of ${S} and ${D} in dpkg-raw

${S} can now be used for checking out sources without being linked implicitly
diff --git a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
index 1f54e8f9..2fad991a 100644
--- a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
@@ -80,14 +80,24 @@ deb_create_control[vardeps] += "DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS \
DEBIAN_BREAKS \
DEBIAN_BUILT_USING \
DEBIAN_CONFLICTS \
- DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT"
+ DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT \
+ STANDARDS_VERSION"

deb_create_control() {
# Add Source section

+ if [ -z "${STANDARDS_VERSION}" ]; then

+ case "${BASE_DISTRO_CODENAME}" in
+ buster) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.3.0" ;;
+ bullseye) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.5.1" ;;
+ bookworm) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.6.2" ;;
+ trixie|sid|*) STANDARDS_VERSION="4.7.2" ;;
+ esac

+ fi
+

cat << EOF > ${S}/debian/control
Source: ${BPN}
Section: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIAN_SECTION')}
Priority: optional
-Standards-Version: 3.9.6
+Standards-Version: ${STANDARDS_VERSION}
Maintainer: ${MAINTAINER}
Build-Depends: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS')}
EOF
--

2.39.5

[Jan Kiszka]

On 29.10.25 13:02, srinuvasan.a via isar-users wrote:
> From: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>
>
> The Standards-Version field in debian/control declares the Debian Policy
> version that the package complies with. Currently, the custom source packages
> use a hard-coded Standards-Version: 3.9.6, which is obsolete and does not align
> with the policies of newer Debian releases
>

We have a lot of hand-written control files with that version in isar
and isar-cip-core in addition. Any plans for addressing those as well?

BTW, what is the concrete impact of not having a recent version? Missing
that from this description.

Jan

Siemens AG, Foundational Technologies
Linux Expert Center

[Srinuvasan Arjunan]

On Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 8:55 PM 'Jan Kiszka' via isar-users <isar-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

On 29.10.25 13:02, srinuvasan.a via isar-users wrote:
> From: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>
>
> The Standards-Version field in debian/control declares the Debian Policy
> version that the package complies with. Currently, the custom source packages
> use a hard-coded Standards-Version: 3.9.6, which is obsolete and does not align
> with the policies of newer Debian releases
>

We have a lot of hand-written control files with that version in isar
and isar-cip-core in addition. Any plans for addressing those as well?

    Yes we will address.

    If you have your own control file which is not generated by ISAR, we could update the

    standards version manually via STANDARDS_VERSION variable.

    If a control file generated by ISAR, then it automatically sets the standards version

    based on the suite wise.

BTW, what is the concrete impact of not having a recent version? Missing
that from this description.

  Will send V3 with the concrete reason for why we have this updated standards version. 

   Many thanks,

   Srinu

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[srinuv...@siemens.com]

From: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>

The Standards-Version field in debian/control declares the Debian Policy
version that the package complies with. Currently, the custom source packages
use a hard-coded Standards-Version: 3.9.6, which is obsolete and does not align
with the policies of newer Debian releases

Update the packaging to set the correct Standards-Version dynamically based on
the target Debian suite, ensuring compliance with the appropriate Debian Policy
version for each release.

Debian Policy evolves over time, newer versions may add, remove, or deprecate
control fields and packaging behaviors. Using an outdated Standards-Version
can miss required or recommended fields, leading to QA or functional issues.

Examples:
- Rules-Requires-Root (Policy 4.1.0): declares if root privileges are needed
during debian/rules execution, improves reproducibility and isolation.
- Homepage (Policy 3.9.3): provides upstream project link for better metadata.

Older Standards-Version(Policy 3.9.6) may trigger lintian warnings such as:
W: source: missing-rules-requires-root-field
W: source: missing-homepage-field

Keeping Standards-Version current ensures clean builds, QA compliance,
and future compatibility.

2.39.5

[srinuv...@siemens.com]

index cf04fa5c..9ddb8ae6 100644

--- a/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
@@ -242,6 +242,13 @@ consumption by imaging classes.
Additional build dependencies of auto-debianized packages can now be defined
by setting DEBIAN_BUILD_DEPENDS.

+### Add DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION as a deb_debianize parameter

+
+By default, the Standards-Version field in the debian/control file is automatically
+set based on the corresponding Debian suite.
+If you need to override this default value, you can do so by defining

+the DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION variable in your recipe.

+
### Separation of ${S} and ${D} in dpkg-raw

${S} can now be used for checking out sources without being linked implicitly
diff --git a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass

index 1f54e8f9..4caf0ce5 100644

--- a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
@@ -80,14 +80,24 @@ deb_create_control[vardeps] += "DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS \
DEBIAN_BREAKS \
DEBIAN_BUILT_USING \
DEBIAN_CONFLICTS \
- DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT"
+ DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT \

+ DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION"

deb_create_control() {
# Add Source section

+ if [ -z "${DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION}" ]; then

+ case "${BASE_DISTRO_CODENAME}" in

+ buster) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.3.0" ;;
+ bullseye) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.5.1" ;;
+ bookworm) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.6.2" ;;
+ trixie|sid|*) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.7.2" ;;

+ esac
+ fi
+
cat << EOF > ${S}/debian/control
Source: ${BPN}
Section: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIAN_SECTION')}
Priority: optional
-Standards-Version: 3.9.6

+Standards-Version: ${DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION}

[Isaac True]

> + if [ -z "${DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION}" ]; then
> + case "${BASE_DISTRO_CODENAME}" in
> + buster) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.3.0" ;;
> + bullseye) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.5.1" ;;
> + bookworm) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.6.2" ;;
> + trixie|sid|*) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.7.2" ;;
> + esac
> + fi

I wonder if it might be better to do this using BitBake variable
overrides, like:

DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:buster = "4.3.0"
DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:bullseye = "4.5.1"
... etc
DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION = "4.7.2"

What do you think?

Apart from that, this is missing the distro codenames for Ubuntu,
meaning it would use the default 'DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION = "4.7.2"'
for all Ubuntu releases, which I'm pretty sure would break older
releases like focal.

I guess the default should probably be the lowest standards versions
supported by all releases, rather than the newest.

Cheers,
Isaac

Isaac True
emlix GmbH, https://www.emlix.com
Fon +49 228 94 77 96 94
Bachstraße 6, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Sitz der Gesellschaft: Göttingen, Amtsgericht Göttingen HR B 3160
Geschäftsfuehrung: Heike Jordan, Dr. Uwe Kracke
Ust-IdNr.: DE 205 198 055

emlix - smart embedded open source

[Srinuvasan Arjunan]

On Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 8:26 PM 'Isaac True' via isar-users <isar-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

 > +    if [ -z "${DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION}" ]; then
 > +            case "${BASE_DISTRO_CODENAME}" in
 > +                    buster)   DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.3.0" ;;
 > +                    bullseye) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.5.1" ;;
 > +                    bookworm) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.6.2" ;;
 > +                    trixie|sid|*) DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION="4.7.2" ;;
 > +            esac
 > +    fi

I wonder if it might be better to do this using BitBake variable
overrides, like:

DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:buster = "4.3.0"
DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:bullseye = "4.5.1"
... etc
DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION = "4.7.2"

What do you think?

   Yes this approach also looks good to me, let me refactor the code. 

Apart from that, this is missing the distro codenames for Ubuntu,
meaning it would use the default 'DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION = "4.7.2"'
for all Ubuntu releases, which I'm pretty sure would break older
releases like focal.

I guess the default should probably be the lowest standards versions
supported by all releases, rather than the newest.

    Sure, I will update the default one to the lowest standards, thanks. 

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[srinuv...@siemens.com]

From: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>

The Standards-Version field in debian/control declares the Debian Policy
version that the package complies with. Currently, the custom source packages
use a hard-coded Standards-Version: 3.9.6, which is obsolete and does not align
with the policies of newer Debian releases

Update the packaging to set the correct Standards-Version dynamically based on
the target Debian suite, ensuring compliance with the appropriate Debian Policy
version for each release.

Debian Policy evolves over time, newer versions may add, remove, or deprecate
control fields and packaging behaviors. Using an outdated Standards-Version
can miss required or recommended fields, leading to QA or functional issues.

Examples:
- Rules-Requires-Root (Policy 4.1.0): declares if root privileges are needed
during debian/rules execution, improves reproducibility and isolation.
- Homepage (Policy 3.9.3): provides upstream project link for better metadata.

Older Standards-Version(Policy 3.9.6) may trigger lintian warnings such as:
W: source: missing-rules-requires-root-field
W: source: missing-homepage-field

Keeping Standards-Version current ensures clean builds, QA compliance,
and future compatibility.

Signed-off-by: srinuvasan <srinuv...@siemens.com>
---

RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md | 8 ++++++++
meta/classes/debianize.bbclass | 12 ++++++++++--
2 files changed, 18 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md b/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
index cf04fa5c..31512561 100644
--- a/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/RECIPE-API-CHANGELOG.md
@@ -242,6 +242,14 @@ consumption by imaging classes.

Additional build dependencies of auto-debianized packages can now be defined
by setting DEBIAN_BUILD_DEPENDS.

+### Add DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION as a deb_debianize parameter
+
+By default, the Standards-Version field in the debian/control file is automatically
+set based on the corresponding Debian suite.
+If you need to override this default value, you can do so by defining
+the DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION variable in your recipe.

+E.x: `DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:<suite-name> = <version>`

+
### Separation of ${S} and ${D} in dpkg-raw

${S} can now be used for checking out sources without being linked implicitly
diff --git a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass

index 1f54e8f9..247489ea 100644
--- a/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/debianize.bbclass
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ MAINTAINER ??= "Unknown maintainer <unk...@example.com>"

DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS ?= "debhelper-compat (= ${DEBIAN_COMPAT}), ${DEBIAN_BUILD_DEPENDS}"

+DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:buster ?= "4.3.0"
+DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:bullseye ?= "4.5.1"
+DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:bookworm ?= "4.6.2"
+DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:trixie ?= "4.7.2"
+DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION:sid ?= "4.7.2"
+DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION ?= "3.9.6"
+
deb_add_changelog() {
changelog_v="${CHANGELOG_V}"
timestamp="${DEBIAN_CHANGELOG_TIMESTAMP}"
@@ -80,14 +87,15 @@ deb_create_control[vardeps] += "DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS \

DEBIAN_BREAKS \
DEBIAN_BUILT_USING \
DEBIAN_CONFLICTS \
- DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT"
+ DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT \
+ DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION"
deb_create_control() {
# Add Source section

cat << EOF > ${S}/debian/control
Source: ${BPN}
Section: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIAN_SECTION')}
Priority: optional
-Standards-Version: 3.9.6
+Standards-Version: ${DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION}
Maintainer: ${MAINTAINER}
Build-Depends: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS')}
EOF
--

2.39.5

[Jan Kiszka]

Maybe even put that into meta/conf/distro/debian*.conf, similar to
DISTRO_GCC? Or define DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION_DEFAULT there and do

DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION ?= "${DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION_DEFAULT}"

here.

> deb_add_changelog() {
> changelog_v="${CHANGELOG_V}"
> timestamp="${DEBIAN_CHANGELOG_TIMESTAMP}"
> @@ -80,14 +87,15 @@ deb_create_control[vardeps] += "DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS \
> DEBIAN_BREAKS \
> DEBIAN_BUILT_USING \
> DEBIAN_CONFLICTS \
> - DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT"
> + DEBIAN_RULES_REQUIRES_ROOT \
> + DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION"
> deb_create_control() {
> # Add Source section
> cat << EOF > ${S}/debian/control
> Source: ${BPN}
> Section: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIAN_SECTION')}
> Priority: optional
> -Standards-Version: 3.9.6
> +Standards-Version: ${DEBIAN_STANDARDS_VERSION}
> Maintainer: ${MAINTAINER}
> Build-Depends: ${@ deb_list_beautify(d, 'DEBIANIZE_BUILD_DEPENDS')}
> EOF

Jan