[Git][reproducible-builds/specs/source-date-epoch-spec][flag] Document usage as a flag

[Bernhard M. Wiedemann (@bmwiedemann-guest)]

Bernhard M. Wiedemann pushed to branch flag at Reproducible Builds / specs / source-date-epoch-spec


Commits:
2cb58543 by Bernhard M. Wiedemann at 2026-09-24T09:51:01+02:00
Document usage as a flag

because that is what we already did in upstreamed patches
and sometimes caused discussion, because it was outside of the spec.

- - - - -


1 changed file:

- source-date-epoch-spec.xml


Changes:

=====================================
source-date-epoch-spec.xml
=====================================
@@ -176,6 +176,12 @@
 			If the value is malformed, the build process SHOULD
 			exit with a non-zero error code.
 		</para>
+		<para>
+			The presence of this variable indicates that deterministic
+			output might be expected beyond timestamps.
+			If this variable is present, other output besides timestamps, SHOULD be made deterministic.
+			(See Usage as a flag below.)
+		</para>
 	</sect2>
 </sect1>
 
@@ -215,6 +221,13 @@
 			option to GNU tar.
 		</para>
 	</sect2>
+	<sect2>
+		<title>Usage as a flag</title>
+			When <envar>SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH</envar> is set, build processes might
+			omit build machine hostname and username from their output,
+			or set them to a constant value.
+                        And compilers might default to deterministic build output.
+	</sect2>
 	<sect2>
 		<title>Other examples</title>
 		<para>



View it on GitLab: https://salsa.debian.org/reproducible-builds/specs/source-date-epoch-spec/-/commit/2cb58543ab7b647febd718281cc6c9e8e46af0ae

-- 
View it on GitLab: https://salsa.debian.org/reproducible-builds/specs/source-date-epoch-spec/-/commit/2cb58543ab7b647febd718281cc6c9e8e46af0ae
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