[Git][reproducible-builds/specs/source-date-epoch-spec][flag] 2 commits: 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:
6c333b86 by Bernhard M. Wiedemann at 2026-09-29T05:29:32+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.

The first sentence communicates the general expectations of
those that set SDE
while the 2nd sentence defines what a build process should do as a result.

- - - - -
24fca884 by Bernhard M. Wiedemann at 2026-09-29T05:29:32+02:00
Add a cross-reference link

- - - - -


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 usually indicates that deterministic
+			results are desired.
+			Therefore, other outputs besides timestamps SHOULD be deterministic.
+			(See <xref linkend="usage-as-a-flag"/> below.)
+		</para>
 	</sect2>
 </sect1>
 
@@ -215,6 +221,15 @@
 			option to GNU tar.
 		</para>
 	</sect2>
+	<sect2 id="usage-as-a-flag">
+		<title>Usage as a flag</title>
+		<para>
+			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.
+		</para>
+	</sect2>
 	<sect2>
 		<title>Other examples</title>
 		<para>



View it on GitLab: https://salsa.debian.org/reproducible-builds/specs/source-date-epoch-spec/-/compare/5045fc271bfea0dff064b53101a2c98633ac09ff...24fca8840fb89f5b0e4c41fb539416d76d034f3a

-- 
View it on GitLab: https://salsa.debian.org/reproducible-builds/specs/source-date-epoch-spec/-/compare/5045fc271bfea0dff064b53101a2c98633ac09ff...24fca8840fb89f5b0e4c41fb539416d76d034f3a
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