Todd Vierling wrote:

> : PS: While I've your attention.  Assuming you drag in GDB 5.0 and then
> : make local changes, could you please remember to tweek
> : gdb/Makefile.in:VERSION so that the GDB identifies its self as something
> : other than ``GDB 5.0''.
> 
> How about a version number of "x.y.z-TNF"?

What do you think about a general format like:
  <name>-<x>.<y>-<editor>.<a>.<b>
(one letter parts are numbers, the other strings).

The first part "<name>-<x>.<y>" gives the original version number of
the package and the seconde part "-<edition>.<a>.<b>" versions the local
editions.  The seconde number in the edition can be used for working
editions not released, the released editions should go with one number.

For "<editor>" you set "TNF".

This clearly separates the version number of the maintainer form
the edition number of a local editor. Whit your suggestion, is
guessing, what goes to the edition and what to the version. I.e.
the following release sequence:

GDB-5.0  # Original
GDB-5.0.1-TNF  # NetBSD edition
GDB-5.0.1.1-TNF  # NetBSD minor edition (just in case)
GDB-5.0.1  # Original minor release
GDB-5.0.1.1-TNF  # WHAT this number is already in use!!

Just an idea
Bernd