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<title>The Debian Menu sub-policy</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets Vsnapshot"></meta><meta name="description" content="This manual describes the policy requirements for the Menu system used in the Debian distribution. This document is part of the policy package for Debian."></meta></head><body><div xml:lang="en" class="book"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h1 class="title"><a id="id-1"></a>The Debian Menu sub-policy</h1></div><div><div class="authorgroup"><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="firstname">Chris</span> <span class="surname">Waters</span></h3></div><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="firstname">Joey</span> <span class="surname">Hess</span></h3></div><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="firstname">Joost</span> <span class="surname">Witteveen</span></h3></div><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="othername">The Debian Policy Mailing List</span></h3><code class="email">&lt;<a class="email" href="mailto:debian-policy@lists.debian.org">debian-policy@lists.debian.org</a>&gt;</code></div></div></div><div><p class="releaseinfo">version 4.6.0.1</p></div><div><p class="copyright">Copyright © 1999 Chris Waters, Joey Hess, Joost Witteveen</p></div><div><div class="legalnotice"><a id="id-1.2.6"></a><p>
        These are the copyright dates of the original Debian Menu
        sub-policy.  Since then, this document has been updated by many
        others.  No comprehensive collection of copyright notices for
        subsequent work exists.
      </p><p>
        This manual is free software; you may redistribute it and/or
        modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
        published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
        License, or (at your option) any later version.
      </p><p>
        This is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
        WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
        MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
        General Public License for more details.
      </p><p>
        A copy of the GNU General Public License is available as
        <code class="filename">/usr/share/common-licenses/GPL</code> in the Debian
        distribution or on the World Wide Web at <a class="ulink" href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/" target="_top">https://www.gnu.org/licenses/</a>.
      </p></div></div><div><p class="pubdate">2021-08-18</p></div><div><div class="abstract"><p class="title"><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>
        This manual describes the policy requirements for the Menu system
        used in the Debian distribution.  This document is part of the
        policy package for Debian.
      </p></div></div></div><hr></hr></div><div class="toc"><p><strong>Table of Contents</strong></p><dl class="toc"><dt><span class="chapter"><a href="#ch1">1. About this document</a></span></dt><dt><span class="chapter"><a href="#ch2">2. Menu Structure</a></span></dt><dd><dl><dt><span class="section"><a href="#s2.1">2.1. Preferred menu structure</a></span></dt></dl></dd></dl></div><div class="chapter"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h1 class="title"><a id="ch1"></a>Chapter 1. About this document</h1></div></div></div><p>
      This document is distributed as the <code class="literal">menu-policy</code>
      files in the Debian package <code class="systemitem"><a class="ulink" href="https://packages.debian.org/debian-policy" target="_top">debian-policy</a></code>.
      It is also available from the Debian web mirrors at <a class="ulink" href="https://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/menu-policy/" target="_top">https://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/menu-policy/</a>.
    </p><p>
      This document has been extracted and separated from the
      <span class="emphasis"><em>Menu</em></span> package to:
    </p><div class="orderedlist"><ol class="orderedlist" type="1"><li class="listitem"><p>
          Increase the visibility of the Menu sub policy
        </p></li><li class="listitem"><p>
          Reduce the coupling between policy and implementation.  If this
          separation is not made, every time we want to change menu
          policy, we have to arrange to get the maintainer to release a
          new version of the package, even if the package has not
          otherwise changed.  It also involves yet another layer, making
          the policy changes that much harder to implement.
        </p></li></ol></div><p>
      The <a class="ulink" href="mailto:debian-policy@lists.debian.org" target="_top">debian-policy
      mailing list</a> has taken responsibility for the contents of
      this document, with the <span class="emphasis"><em>Menu</em></span> package
      maintainer's responsible for packaging administrivia only.
    </p></div><div class="chapter"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h1 class="title"><a id="ch2"></a>Chapter 2. Menu Structure</h1></div></div></div><div class="toc"><p><strong>Table of Contents</strong></p><dl class="toc"><dt><span class="section"><a href="#s2.1">2.1. Preferred menu structure</a></span></dt></dl></div><p>
      If you have a package which doesn't fit within the existing menu
      hierarchy, please bring it up on the debian-devel mailing list.  If
      you have other proposals for changing the menu hierarchy, or making
      other changes to menu policy, please bring it up on debian-policy.
    </p><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a id="s2.1"></a>2.1. Preferred menu structure</h2></div></div></div><p>
        Here is the authoritative list of Debian's menu structure.
        Packages must be placed in leaf sections.
      </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">Applications</span></dt><dd><p>
              Normal applications
            </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">Applications/Accessibility</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Tools to aid people with disabilities or for machines
                    lacking usual input devices.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: gok, yasr, dasher.
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Amateur Radio</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Anything relating to HAM radio.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: baken, hamsoft, twlog
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Data Management</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Interactive database programs, collection managers,
                    address books, bibliography tools, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    gaby, alexandria, mdbtools
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Editors</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Editors, other than office word processors, for
                    text-based information.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: ksubtile, nano, hexedit
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Education</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Educational and training softwares.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: gtypist, gcompris, quiz
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Emulators</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Software that allows you to run non-native software or
                    more than one OS at a time.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: wine, dosemu, qemu
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/File Management</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Tools for file management, archiving, searching,
                    CD/DVD burning, backup, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: file-roller, mc, baobab
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Graphics</span></dt><dd><p>
                    2D and 3D graphics manipulation software.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: gimp, inkscape, imagemagick
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Mobile Devices</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Software that allows you to interface with mobile
                    devices (phones, PDAs, etc.).
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: kandy, gnokii, gnome-pilot
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Network</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Network related software.  This is a three-level
                    section, do not put entries directly here.
                  </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">Applications/Network/Communication</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Mail, USENET news, chat, instant messaging, IP
                          telephony, video conferencing software, etc.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: xchat, gaim, mutt
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Network/File Transfer</span></dt><dd><p>
                          File transfer software such as download
                          managers, FTP clients, P2P clients, etc.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: amule, gftp, d4x
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Network/Monitoring</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Network monitoring software
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: gip, ettercap, iptstate
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Network/Web Browsing</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Web browsers, tools for offline browsing, etc.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: elinks, epiphany-browser, webhttrack
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Network/Web News</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Web feed (RSS, Atom, etc.) and podcast aggregators.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: akregator, kitty, liferea
                        </p></dd></dl></div></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Office</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Office suites, word processors, spreadsheets, CRM,
                    ERP, financial software, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: openoffice.org, tinyerp-client, gnucash
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Programming</span></dt><dd><p>
                    IDEs, debuggers, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: anjuta, gdb, eclipse
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Project Management</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Timetable managers, group task trackers, bug tracking
                    software, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: planner, bugzilla, gnotime
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Scientific and engineering-related software.
                  </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Astronomy</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Astronomy-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: celestia, spacechart, stellarium
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Biology</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Biology-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: arb, ncbi-tools-x11, seaview
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Chemistry</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Chemistry-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: chemtool, kalzium, xdrawchem
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Data Analysis</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Software designed for processing, extracting,
                          and presenting generic scientific data.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: fityk, ygraph, mn-fit
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Electronics</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Circuit design tools, simulators and assemblers
                          for microprocessors, etc
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: geda, gnucap, tkgate
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Engineering</span></dt><dd><p>
                          CAD, UML tools, diagram-drawing and other
                          engineering-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: tcm, dia, qcad
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Geoscience</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Geoscience-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: earth3d, qgis, therion
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Mathematics</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Mathematics-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: gcalctool, snappea, xeukleides
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Medicine</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Medicine-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: mssstest, gnumed-client, xmedcon
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Physics</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Physics-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: kxterm, ifrit, paw
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Science/Social</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Social sciences-related software.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: gnomesword, hanzim, bibletime
                        </p></dd></dl></div></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Shells</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Various shells to be used inside a terminal emulator.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: bash, ksh, zsh
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Sound</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Sound players, editors, and rippers/recorders.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: beep-media-player, grip, audacity
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/System</span></dt><dd><p>
                    System related software.
                  </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">Applications/System/Administration</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Administrative and system configuration
                          utilities, also tools for personal user
                          settings.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: gnome-control-center,
                          configure-debian, gksu
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/System/Hardware</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Tools for manipulating specific hardware,
                          especially non-standard laptop hardware.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: toshutils, nvclock-gtk, nvtv
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/System/Language Environment</span></dt><dd><p>
                          This section is reserved for language-env as a
                          special case.
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/System/Monitoring</span></dt><dd><p>
                          System information and monitoring tools, log
                          viewers, etc.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: top, hal-device-manager, gtkdiskfree
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/System/Package Management</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Package managers and related tools.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: aptitude, deborphan, smartpm
                        </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/System/Security</span></dt><dd><p>
                          Security, cryptography and privacy related
                          software, antiviruses, tools to track and report
                          bugs, etc.
                        </p><p>
                          Examples: gpgkeys, bastille, avscan
                        </p></dd></dl></div></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Terminal Emulators</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Graphical terminal emulators.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: xterm, gnome-terminal, rxvt
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Text</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Text oriented tools like dictionaries, OCR,
                    translation, text analysis software, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: kdrill, stardict, turkey
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/TV and Radio</span></dt><dd><p>
                    TV-in, TV-out, FM radio, teletext browsers, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: gradio, gatos, alevt
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Viewers</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Software for viewing images, documents and other
                    (non-video) media.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: gqview, evince, gthumb
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Video</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Video players, editors, and rippers/recorders.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: istanbul, totem, kino
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Applications/Web Development</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Software for web site editing, web programming, and
                    site administration.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: bluefish, screem, gphpedit
                  </p></dd></dl></div></dd><dt><span class="term">Games</span></dt><dd><p>
              Games and recreations
            </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">Games/Action</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Games that involve a lot of action and require fast
                    reflexes.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: xsoldier, supertux, xmoto
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Adventure</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Role playing and adventure games, interactive movies
                    and stories, etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: beneath-a-steel-sky, egoboo, kq
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Blocks</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Tetris-like games involving falling blocks.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: crack-attack, frozen-bubble, netris
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Board</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Games played on a board.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: phalanx, xshogi, xboard
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Card</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Games involving a deck of cards.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: pysol, ace-of-penguins, xpat2
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Puzzles</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Tests of ingenuity and logic.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: xmpuzzles, sgt-puzzles, enigma
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Simulation</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Simulations of the real world in all detail and
                    complexity.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: flightgear, torcs
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Strategy</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Games involving long-term strategic thinking.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: wesnoth, widelands, netpanzer
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Tools</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Server browsers, configurators, editors, and other
                    game-related tools that are not games themselves.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: xqf, crystalspace
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Games/Toys</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Amusements, eye-candy, entertaining demos, screen
                    hacks (screensavers), etc.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: xdesktopwaves, xphoon, xpenguins
                  </p></dd></dl></div></dd><dt><span class="term">Help</span></dt><dd><p>
              programs that provide user documentation
            </p><p>
              Examples: debian-reference, apt-howto, dhelp
            </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Screen</span></dt><dd><p>
              Programs that affect the whole screen.
            </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">Screen/Saving</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Tools for blanking the screen.  Entries of screen
                    hacks and configuration GUIs should go to other
                    appropriate sections.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: xscreensaver, xlockmore
                  </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Screen/Locking</span></dt><dd><p>
                    Tools for locking the screen.
                  </p><p>
                    Examples: xscreensaver, xlockmore
                  </p></dd></dl></div></dd><dt><span class="term">Window Managers</span></dt><dd><p>
              X window managers.
            </p><p>
              Examples: fluxbox, metacity, waimea
            </p></dd><dt><span class="term">FVWM Modules</span></dt><dd><p>
              FVWM-based window manager modules.  As only modules related
              to the running window-manager are displayed, do not create
              subsections for specific window-managers.
            </p><p>
              Examples: fvwm, fvwm-gnome, fvwm95
            </p></dd><dt><span class="term">Window Maker</span></dt><dd><p>
              This section is reserved for wmaker as a special case.
            </p><p>
              All wmaker specific entries must go here.
            </p></dd></dl></div></div></div></div></body></html>