[Python-modules-team] Bug#604402: python-matplotlib-data: includes local copies of fonts

[Francesco Poli (t1000)]

Package: python-matplotlib-data
Version: 0.99.3-1
Severity: normal

Hello and thanks for maintaining matplotlib in Debian!

After taking a look at the copyright file
http://packages.debian.org/changelogs/pool/main/m/matplotlib/matplotlib_0.99.3-1/python-matplotlib-data.copyright
and at the list of files
http://packages.debian.org/sid/all/python-matplotlib-data/filelist
it seems to me that the package includes some fonts.

I think it would be far better if those fonts were separated out in
font packages.
If those fonts are already packaged separately, their packages should
be used, instead of local copies.

BTW, if I understand the documentation correctly:
http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/api/font_manager_api.html
it seems that matplotlib users can select any font which is installed
on their systems. If this is indeed the case, then I cannot really
understand why some fonts are included in the python-matplotlib-data
package: I would say that this package should just depend on some
general (virtual) package ensuring that at least one (suitable) font
is installed on the system.

Please correct me and explain, in case I am completely off-track...
Thanks for your time.

Bye.