Comment 2 for bug 128222

Ming Hua writes ("[Bug 128222] Re: gutsy/amd64: ftbfs / autopkgtest failure"):
> This FTBFS is due to autopkgtest running "debian/rules build" without
> running "debian/rules clean" first.

I see. Well, running rules clean first is not required.

> The clean target removes config.{guess,sub} file, then in conig.status
> target the ln command assumes these files are not there. This can be
> easily fixed by using "-f" option for ln, but since all buildd runs
> "debian/rules clean" before building, and policy explicitly says build
> target may need clean target to be run first, shouldn't autopkgtest be
> less restrictive on this?

No, policy says

  The build target may need to run the clean target first - see below.

that is, if build doesn't work without clean being run first, then
build must depend on clean so that it is run first automatically.

Ian.