Dear AUR-maintainers, in this post [¹] I was told to raise this issue on this mailing list, so I do so. Note that I will not stay part of this mailing list; if there is an authorative answer maybe the best is to post it also to [¹] so everyone can notice. The issue is described in full in [²] and some short discussion followed. I also copypaste the issue here (from the Forum -- so forum-syntax): --- regarding [url=https://github.com/chaotic-aur/packages/issues/3151#issuecomment-2230462191]this discussion[/url] about the AUR-package [url=https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/gr-lora_sdr-git]gr-lora_sdr-git[/url] I want to ask about the `$epoch` variable in `-git` packages in the AUR. The maintainer argues that `$epoch` [i]may[/i] be used, but not has to, when the versioning scheme changes so that a newer version of the `PKGBUILD` would result in a lower version according to `pacman`'s version compare logic. In this case, the old `$pkgver` (before adoption and fixing of the AUR package) was `8133965`, the new one now is `0.5.r4.g8133965`. [url=https://github.com/chaotic-aur/packages/issues/3151#issuecomment-2230495522]The maintainer argues as following to not increment `$epoch`[/url]: [quote=xiota] AUR is still build on demand. AUR helper and Chaotic AUR users will receive notification and can force the update if they want. Users unwilling to manually force the upgrade can keep the old version. It's ultimately their choice. [/quote] [url=https://github.com/chaotic-aur/packages/issues/3151#issuecomment-2230462191]I was reasoning that `$epoch` _must_ be incremented in such a case[/url]: [quote=dreirund] [quote=xiota] Also, I don't use epoch on AUR packages because they're build on demand. [/quote] But for the packages in the AUR you still need to set `$epoch`. Since the AUR is independently usable from `chaotic-aur`. The version scheme change you did in `gr-lora_sdr-git` requires an increment of `$epoch` in the AUR package, since the old version was `8133965`, the new one is `0.5.r4.g8133965`, which is lower by version compare logic. So setting `epoch=1` in the AUR package actually is required. [/quote] [url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PKGBUILD#epoch]The wiki[/url] seems not to be clear about it, it may be read in both ways: [url=https://github.com/chaotic-aur/packages/issues/3151#issuecomment-2230607960]One standpoint[/url]: [quote=dreirund] Regardless what opinions anyone has, the guidelines are clear about that: [url]https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PKGBUILD#epoch[/url] [quote=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PKGBUILD#epoch] It is used when the version numbering scheme of a package changes (or is alphanumeric), breaking normal version comparison logic. [/quote] [/quote] and [url=https://github.com/chaotic-aur/packages/issues/3151#issuecomment-2230660924]answer[/url] to that: [quote=xiota] From your own reference: [quote=quote=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PKGBUILD#epoch] Warning: epoch should only be used when [b]absolutely required[/b] to do so. [/quote] There is no statement requiring epoch to be used. Only requirements to meet when it is used. [/quote] So, is there any clear official rule for this case? --- [i]EDIT:[/i] After a discussion [url=https://github.com/chaotic-aur/packages/issues/3151#issuecomment-2230462191]over there[/url], the maintainer has moved the discussion thread "[i]to a repository you don't have access to.[/i]". Regards! --- Regards!, @dreieck. [¹] https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=2184346#p2184346 [²] https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=2184286