Re: Bug#655999: [bugs.debian.org] Reporting documentation - "What package does your bug report belong to?" points to user support groups
Hi Josip,
Josip Rodin wrote:
On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 01:25:26PM -0500, Filipus Klutiero wrote:
> [Forgot to Cc joy]
>
> >>debian-user's topic is user support.
> >>
> >>For technical discussions about development, the default group is
> >>debian-devel@lists.debian.org.
> >>Reference:http://anonscm.debian.org/viewvc/webwml/webwml/english/Bugs/Reporting.wml?r1=1.18&r2=1.19 <http://anonscm.debian.org/viewvc/webwml/webwml/english/Bugs/Reporting.wml?r1=1.18&r2=1.19>
I made that edit ten years ago (heh) pointing people to debian-user because
helping a person to determine whether the thing they want to communicate is
a bug and how to report it - is primarily a user support issue. Users trying
to report problems is not a development discussion by default; it can be
considered a prerequisite for a development discussion, but not one in and
of itself.
Ah, OK. If the request is going to be "Why am I experiencing problem
foo?", then it makes sense on debian-user. In that case, the problem is
just phrasing (in the current phrasing, the user is already at the step
of reporting a bug).
> There is a difference between the workflows of reporting an issue
> without specifying a package and of asking which package a report
> should be assigned to then reporting.
> The latter workflow is longer, adding the delay needed for the
> advice to come plus the delay of the reporter actually reporting the
> issue. Furthermore, the latter assumes advice will come at some
> point, which is probably not going to be the case.
I'm not sure I see the point of making this kind of a subtle distinction
the reason to start yet another mailing list that would handle just this
matter.
To be sure we're all on the same page, I don't think anyone said a
mailing list should be created just for that. I suggested creating a
mailing list, but only to show that removing this matter from
debian-user didn't imply adding it to debian-devel. I am not aware of
the volume of this matter and can't say whether creating a new mailing
list is warranted.
In any case, we do have support for tracking unknown packages in the bug
tracking system, and a few people (used to) volunteer to look after it.
So if the prospective reporter doesn't get help from debian-user, they
can still file such a bug report.
Hum, interesting. I am aware that the ITS deals with errors in the
package given, like when the user does a typo, but I'm not aware that
one can "knowingly report against an unknown package". Could you explain
how they would do that?
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