Improve the Installed-Size wording

Avoid the term kibibytes, which is controversial.  Document that
Installed-Size is only an estimate and may vary based on block size,
file system properties, and actions taken by maintainer scripts.

diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index c0970a036fcb3f170a9ca0f3350d73d5899e69fa..2552d2239876471ff22b3cc7760f449292b32981 100644 (file)
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ debian-policy (3.8.3.0) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
     warnings against its use.  Thanks, Steve Langasek.  (Closes: #533577)
   * Add references to the sections on Breaks and Conflicts to the section
     on binary dependencies.  Thanks, Frank Küster.  (Closes: #529771)
-  * Clarify that Installed-Size is in kibibytes.  Thanks, Martin Dorey.
-    (Closes: #534408)
+  * Clarify the units of Installed-Size and document that it is an
+    approximation.  Thanks, Martin Dorey.  (Closes: #534408)
   * Explain that the copyright dates are for the original Policy manual
     and that there is no updated list of copyright holders for subsequent
     revisions available.  (Partly addresses #47438)

diff --git a/policy.sgml b/policy.sgml
index d02f6c17495e062ed8cee24273a3ca0a9d33c8f2..3c5a22db221c275774916f718e3ad80e2f99146c 100644 (file)
--- a/policy.sgml
+++ b/policy.sgml
@@ -3291,16 +3291,17 @@ Package: libc6
          <heading><tt>Installed-Size</tt></heading>
 
          <p>
-           This field appears in the control files of binary
-           packages, and in the <file>Packages</file> files.  It gives
-           the total amount of disk space required to install the
-           named package.
+           This field appears in the control files of binary packages,
+           and in the <file>Packages</file> files.  It gives an
+           estimation the total amount of disk space required to install
+           the named package.  Actual installed size may vary based on
+           block size, file system properties, or actions taken by
+           package maintainer scripts.
          </p>
 
          <p>
-           The disk space is given as the integer value of the installed
-           size divided by 1024 (in other words, the size in kibibytes)
-           and rounded up.
+           The disk space is given as the integer value of the estimated
+           installed size in bytes, divided by 1024 and rounded up.
          </p>
        </sect1>