The second issue is easier. The original specification required that blank lines within a field include a leading . character. This applies to multi-paragraph descriptions. This syntax is totally unnecessary. The
#478: allow comments on any line, don't require '.' for blank lines ----------------------------+----------------------------------------------- Reporter: duncan | Owner: Type: enhancement | Status: new Priority: normal | Milestone: Cabal-1.8 Component: Cabal library | Version: 1.6.0.1 Severity: normal | Resolution: Keywords: | Difficulty: unknown Ghcversion: | Platform: ----------------------------+----------------------------------------------- Changes (by guest): * cc: gwern0@gmail.com (added) Comment: parser could cope fine without it. We should accept the convention for backwards compatibility but also allow ordinary blank lines. Multiple blank lines within a field should still be collapsed to one, and trailing blank lines within a field should be trimmed. Major +1. The '.' syntax is a leading annoyance of the description field syntax for me. -- Ticket URL: http://hackage.haskell.org/trac/hackage/ticket/478#comment:1 Hackage http://haskell.org/cabal/ Hackage: Cabal and related projects