X-Git-Url: https://sipb.mit.edu/gitweb.cgi/wiki.git/blobdiff_plain/a4eaa1c284251bc3a29a9bdd6f39fb99aca66491..d8bfbcc20334d03e417d0dfdb7b27dbfdabf0365:/doc/debian-hacking.mdwn

diff --git a/doc/debian-hacking.mdwn b/doc/debian-hacking.mdwn
index 70c84d5..7196db3 100644
--- a/doc/debian-hacking.mdwn
+++ b/doc/debian-hacking.mdwn
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 Debian and Ubuntu packages make it easy to hack on software that's
-packaged and try out your changes. These instructions assume that you
-have an understanding of how Debian packaging works, although all you
-really need to know is that each file in the distribution comes from a
-<i>package</i>, which contains the compiled form of a <i>source
-package</i>.
+packaged and try out your changes, within the framework of the packaging
+system. These instructions assume that you have an understanding of how
+Debian packaging works, although all you really need to know is that
+each file in the distribution comes from a <i>package</i>, which
+contains the compiled form of a <i>source package</i>.
 
 1. Figure out what package the software is from. Usually it's named
 approximately the same as the software itself, e.g., `barnowl` or `gdb`
@@ -18,11 +18,12 @@ download the source package.
 3. cd into the directory that was just created and make whatever changes
 you want.
 
-4. Run the command `dch -i`, which edits the debian/changelog file. Add
-something like "~edited1" to the end of the verson; a version with a
-tilde in it comes before a version without. This means Debian will let
-you install your edited version over the current version, but also
-permit the next offical release to supersede your hacked version.
+4. Run the command `dch -i`, which edits the debian/changelog file and
+increments the version. Add something like "~edited1" to the end of the
+version, because a version with a tilde in it is considered older than a
+version without. This means Debian will let you install your edited
+version over the current version, but also permit the next offical
+release to supersede your hacked version.
 
 5. Run the command `debuild` to compile the software and build a
 package.