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This blog is a collaborative work. We really need your help: submitting entries about all the great packages you use that would deserve more press.

The blog is named “Debian Package of the Day”, but the publishing frequency depends entirely on the number of posts in the queue. Currently we publish an entry on Wednesdays and another on Sundays.

Submitting new entries

You want to submit new entries ? That’s great! Here is a short HOWTO:

  1. Check that an entry about this package was not already posted by using the Search feature on the right.
  2. If the package is very popular, and you really want to make sure that we don’t have an entry already in the queue for this package, drop us a mail.
  3. Content published on this blog is licensed under the Open Publication License v1.0 or later (that’s the same as the Debian website).
  4. Write your entry. Look at the source code for an entry (look for <div class=”entry”>), and just follow the same formatting (basically, standard HTML with tags such as P, BR, A, I, U, B, IMG etc is perfect), or just write it in plain text (and we will format it).
  5. Check if you can include the following information:
    • Don’t forget to include a title for your entry, using the “PKGNAME: short, attractive description” template.
    • Which problem is the package trying to solve ? Stating it clearly in your entry will help the readers understand how the package will help them.
    • Relevant links (upstream homepage, etc)
    • Screenshots, if applicable
    • How does the package compare with other similar packages ? What are their pros&cons ?
    • Is the package available in stable versions of both Debian and Ubuntu ? Or only in testing/unstable, etc ?
      Generally speaking, a package must be in Debian main or contrib, or Ubuntu main or universe for an entry to be accepted for it. Check using:

    • Information about the package’s maintenance. Is the package orphaned ? very buggy ?
  6. Then, send us your entry:
    • Please double-check that your entry is as good as possible (have you included the information suggested above ?). Please note that entries go through a rigorous reviewing process: chances are very high that we will reply with suggestions about how to improve your entry. It does not mean that your entry is not good, it’s just that we think that it could be even better.
    • either by mail to project-debaday AT teams.debian.net. Put your entry in the body so we can easily comment on stuff. Attach screenshots if you made some (or provide external links for them).

It’s important that you try to submit high quality entries. Don’t just copy the package’s description (another blog is doing that). Fix spelling/grammar mistakes if you can. Editing entries is not an easy task, especially if we don’t know the package in question, so please make our lives easy :-)

Contact us

We can be reached at project-debaday AT teams.debian.net and in IRC in the channel #debaday at irc.oftc.net

Team of editors:

That’s the team of people reviewing, formatting and (hopefully not necessary) improving the entries you submit. If you can dedicate time on a regular basis and are interested in this tedious task, just contact us ;)