Re: Why are some Debian bugs ignored for a long time?
On 8/19/2022 6:59 PM, Andy Smith wrote:
> Hello,
>
> On Fri, Aug 19, 2022 at 05:06:38PM -0400, Chuck Zmudzinski wrote:
> > On 8/19/2022 4:44 PM, piorunz wrote:
> > > On 19/08/2022 18:57, Chuck Zmudzinski wrote:
> > > > I have noticed that some Debian bugs are ignored for a long time, sometimes even when the person who submitted the bug offered a patch. The Debian developers/maintainers sometimes don't even reply and therefore never explain why the proposed patch cannot be applied. Why is that the case with Debian developers/maintainers?
> > >
> > > Hi Chuck,
> > >
> > > Maybe because developers/maintainers are not paid by the hour, but mere
> > > volunteers, don't you think?
> >
>
> > you are saying if a Debian user experiences a bug in Debian
> > software, Debian developers/maintainers do not have to fix it.
>
> That is a direct consequence of the meaning of the term "volunteer";
> you may as well have said, "water is wet". Volunteers cannot be
> forced to do work, else they are not volunteers.
The fact that Debian is created by volunteers and therefore the chances are
high that users might run into problems and not get help from the volunteers
who alone have the power to fix the problems is a fact that Debian users, and
all users of free software, need to keep in mind.
>
> > If Debian developers/maintainers actively refuse to fix some bugs that inevitably arise
> > by ignoring them, why would anyone depend on Debian software for anything important?
>
> I would argue that the situation is similar (and often worse) in
> every other free software project.
In Linux itself, I think it is *much* better than in Debian. I am going to try some other projects
and find out by experience where the consideration for the user has a higher priority than in
Debian.
>
> I would also argue that while you may pay a software vendor to care
> about your use case, that can also come with different issues.
>
> So really, life is not perfect, and we all do what we can to cope
> with that. Things are not perfect in Debian nor elsewhere both
> within and outside the free software world.
>
> I think I know some of the bugs that you are referring to as I keep
> on eye on those developments. A gentle ping on the relevant bugs to
> ask where things are may be appropriate.That's really the strongest
> thing you can do.
I do that and I am ignored. I am not holding my breath waiting for a response
from the relevant developers and maintainers. However, it would be a pleasant
surprise if they *did* respond and I would be grateful if they did. I just don't
think volunteers trying to help Debian but who ignore users who report bugs
in Debian is over the long term a good thing for Debian.
> Others may be tempted to try to drag more info out
> of you to determine what the exact history is here and who is
> right/wrong, but I don't think that will help anyone in these
> particular cases.
We agree on that point.
Best regards,
Chuck
Reply to: