-Why NeuroDebian?
-----------------
-
- In the course of our own research endeavors |we| have joined forces to
- develop `PyMVPA -- a Python framework for multivariate pattern analysis of
- neural data <http://www.pymvpa.org>`_. To conveniently deployment PyMVPA for
- anyone using Debian-derived distributions this package repository was created
- initially. Besides the PyMVPA_ project |we| collaborate with the `NiPy team
- <http://neuroimaging.scipy.org>`_ on various projects, such as NiBabel_ and
- NiPype_. Quickly NeuroDebian_ became the ultimate integrated environment for
- all these projects. We are now constantly working on enriching this
- environment with as many additional relevant software as possible.
-
-
-Why is NeuroDebian not a Pure Blend?
-------------------------------------
-
- Because there is no need for it to become one, as the existing Debian Pure
- Blends already offer the desired functionality *within* Debian. Similar to
- Pure Blends, NeuroDebian's goal is to provide software for neuroscientists
- using the Debian operating system, and therefore the ultimate goal is to get
- all relevant software **into Debian**.
-
- However, various reasons exist that prevent a particular software from
- entering Debian. Some are temporary, i.e. a package is already useable, but
- some technical bits do not meet Debian's standards (yet) or a licensing issue
- needs to be resolved first. For some software the licensing is so restrictive
- that it cannot be distributed by Debian, and hence cannot even go into its
- *non-free* branch. Unfortunately, sometimes these issues cannot be solved to
- a degree that is acceptable for Debian. For some other packages Debian itself
- is not ready yet, e.g. huge data packages with neuroscience data (:ref:`with
- sometimes over 1GB <pkg_fsl-first-data>`).
-
- NeuroDebian aims to be a platform that provides a staging area for
- neuroscience software packages on their way into Debian. All packages are
- properly registered with the relevant `Debian Pure Blends`_, e.g.
- `Debian Science Cognitive Neuroscience`_ or `Debian Med Imaging`_. Inside
- Debian these efforts already provide a suitable framework for this purpose,
- and hence there is no need to establish yet another one.
-
-.. _Debian Pure Blends: http://wiki.debian.org/DebianPureBlends
-.. _Debian Science Cognitive Neuroscience: http://blends.alioth.debian.org/science/tasks/neuroscience-cognitive
-.. _Debian Med Imaging: http://debian-med.alioth.debian.org/tasks/imaging
-
-
-When does a package migrate from NeuroDebian into Debian proper?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In short: When it is ready. The longer answer is that there is nothing
- special to packages in NeuroDebian in comparison to packages conducted
- elsewhere. Packaging efforts are announced to Debian via ITPs_ and the
- packaging itself is available in some version control system -- typically in
- the Git repositories of the `pkg-exppsy group on Debian's Alioth server`_, or
- another VCS, or on http://mentors.debian.net.
-
- The only difference is that a particular package becomes available through the
- NeuroDebian repository before it has passed all checks for compliance with
- Debian's standards. But even after a package becomes part of Debian the
- NeuroDebian repository continues to provide binary packages of new versions
- for a certain set of Debian and Ubuntu releases (aka backports).
-
-.. _ITPs: http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp
-.. _pkg-exppsy group on Debian's Alioth server: http://alioth.debian.org/projects/pkg-exppsy/
-
-
-Debian, Debian, Debian -- What about Ubuntu?
---------------------------------------------
-
- NeuroDebian offers backported binary packages for recent Ubuntu releases
- whenever possible. However, since Ubuntu (like many other derivatives) uses
- Debian as its foundation, it is more efficient to spend time maintaining
- packages in Debian, instead of having to directly contribute to countless
- child-distributions. After the appearance of new packages in Debian, Ubuntu
- typically synchronizes them quickly and they become available in the *Ubuntu
- universe* -- a repository of Debian packages rebuilt for a particular Ubuntu
- release. We are not constantly rebuilding of all available NeuroDebian
- packages for new Ubuntu releases. Therefore, you might find some packages
- temporarily being available for older Ubuntu releases only -- until the point
- when a new package version is made and gets built for all currently supported
- releases.
-
-
-How to create a mirror of the repository?
------------------------------------------
-
- The NeuroDebian repository can be mirrored with rsync. If you are interested
- in sponsoring storage space and bandwidth for another mirror, please
- `contact us <team@neuro.debian.net>`_.
-
-
-How do I get a new neuroscience-related FOSS into (Neuro)Debian?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-
-The goal of NeuroDebian is to package neuroscience software for Debian. Hence
-getting software into NeuroDebian means trying to get it into Debian. There are
-at least two possibilities to achieve that:
-
-* You can approach packaging it yourself. Start by filing an ITP_ (Intent to
- package) bugreport) and `ask us <team@neuro.debian.net>`_ to mentor your
- upload to Debian_, if you are not a Debian developer.
-
-* `Contact us <team@neuro.debian.net>`_ -- but then it might take a little
- longer, depending on our current workload and interest in a particular
- software.
-