many dev extension don't have the extension as dep

[jls]

for example libexif-dev dep doesn't contain libexif

[gerald_clark]

Why should they?

[curaga]

Yep, it's not always a requirement. For example by installing Xorg-dev but not -lib the build will use the additional X libs (xinerama etc) as static, and so create a binary that doesn't depend on Xorg-lib.

This is often useful, and I think it applies to many other -dev extensions too.

[jls]

So what should be the guideline?

[bmarkus]

Personally I'm always adding .tcz to -dev.tcz.dep Missing it always causing problem for me when testing the result. I think in most cases it helps more than hurts and Xorg like example of Curaga is an exception.