How come the override_dh_build-indep sequence isn't run by debuild?

Solution 1:

I stumbled back on this question today. So I took the time to actually grab the code and figure this out. It seems like my comment above is correct. Use the override_dh_auto_build-indep target to build the docs.

This diff was able to produce a doc package with the doxygen generate docs building in a clean raring pbuilder.

=== added file 'debian/nitroshare-doc.install'
--- debian/nitroshare-doc.install   1970-01-01 00:00:00 +0000
+++ debian/nitroshare-doc.install   2013-07-01 18:29:50 +0000
@@ -0,0 +1,1 @@
+doc/* usr/share/doc/nitroshare-doc/

=== modified file 'debian/rules'
--- debian/rules    2013-07-01 18:07:18 +0000
+++ debian/rules    2013-07-01 18:09:03 +0000
@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@

 %:
    dh $@
+
+override_dh_auto_build-indep:
+   doxygen

Though this doesn't really answer your question, it does solve your problem...