Support Python 3 Mapnik

[Pander]

Since version 1.6, Nik4 also support Python3. Please, let that be reflected in the dependencies of this package.

Depends: python-mapnik, python:any (<< 2.8), python:any (>= 2.7~)

should probably be

Depends: python-mapnik | python3-mapnik, python:any (<< 2.8) | python3:any (<< 3.6), python:any (>= 2.7~) | python3:any (>= 3.5~)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Bas Couwenberg (sebastic)]

The nik4 package is not maintained in Ubuntu, this wishlist issue will not be addressed by filing a bugreport in Launchpad.

[Pander (pander)]

Are you sure?

$ apt-cache show nik4
Package: nik4
...
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <email address hidden>
Original-Maintainer: Debian GIS Project <email address hidden>
...
Homepage: https://github.com/Zverik/Nik4
Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Origin: Ubuntu

If it is Debian, this information is confusing.

[Bas Couwenberg (sebastic)]

Ubuntu automatically changes the Maintainer field when it copies packages from Debian.

The nik4 package is in universe which means that no Canonical employees are responsible for maintaining the package in Ubuntu. The MOTU team is responsible for maintaining packages in universe, but is not able to deal with the huge number of packages.

Ubuntu has many users but not many developers, Debian has many more developers but is not able to maintain all packages properly either. Ubuntu cannot handle the same number of packages with less developers.

I maintain pretty much all GIS & OSM related packages in Debian, and the state of those packages in Ubuntu is depressing. Nobody doing bug triage, only the occasional patch for toolchain related issues. There are many users of the GIS & OSM packages in Ubuntu, but none of them have taken the step to become involved in its maintenance.

If you want to improve packages in Ubuntu, you're better off working with the maintainers of the package in Debian, and hosting the improved packages in your PPA until Ubuntu has synced the changes into their next release.