Background

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This page explains how to report bugs to Debian. For reporting bugs to Ubuntu, see ReportingBugs.

There are times when bugs are inherent in the way the package functions & need to be reported upstream. Upstream may change from package to package depending on from where the package is sourced. Lot of Ubuntu packages are sourced from Debian & there is a wonderful package called reportbug which is given by them.

Installing

Since 4.10 (Warty Warthog)

It's packaged in universe, so installing is easy:

sudo apt-get install reportbug

Initial configuration

When you run reportbug for the first time it will create a reportbug.conf file in /etc. There are quite a few changes one has to do there.

sudo gedit /etc/reportbug.conf

Preparing A Bug Report

Let's understand reportbug with help of an e.g. using a user 'bob'

bob@ubuntu:reportbug
Please enter the name of the package in which you have found a problem.
> pidgin
*** Welcome to reportbug.  Use ? for help at prompts. ***
Detected character set: UTF-8
Please change your locale if this is incorrect.

Using 'bob <bob@ubuntu.com>' as your from address. 

The first time you will run it, there would be no bob or anything, feel free to add an address here.

Getting status for pidgin...
Verifying package integrity...
Will send report to Ubuntu (per request).
Maintainer for pidgin is 'Ubuntu Core Developers
<ubuntu-devel@lists.ubuntu.com>'.
Looking up dependencies of pidgin...

Please briefly describe your problem (you can elaborate in a moment; an empty
response will stop reportbug). This should be a concise summary of what is
wrong with the package, for example, "fails to send email" or "does not start
with -q option specified."
> doesn't like me
Rewriting subject to 'pidgin: doesn't like me' 

As told above this is the subject line.

How would you rate the severity of this problem or report?

1 critical        makes unrelated software on the system (or the whole system)
                 break, or causes serious data loss, or introduces a security
                 hole on systems where you install the package.
2 grave           makes the package in question unusable by most or all users,
                 or causes data loss, or introduces a security hole allowing
                 access to the accounts of users who use the package.
3 serious         is a severe violation of Debian policy (that is, the problem
                 is a violation of a 'must' or 'required' directive); may or
                 may not affect the usability of the package. Note that non-
                 severe policy violations may be 'normal,' 'minor,' or
                 'wishlist' bugs. (Package maintainers may also designate
                 other bugs as 'serious' and thus release-critical; however,
                 end users should not do so.)
4 important       a bug which has a major effect on the usability of a package,
                 without rendering it completely unusable to everyone.
5 does-not-build  a bug that stops the package from being built from source.
                 (This is a 'virtual severity'.)
6 normal          a bug that does not undermine the usability of the whole
                 package; for example, a problem with a particular option or
                 menu item.
7 minor           things like spelling mistakes and other minor cosmetic errors
                 that do not affect the core functionality of the package.
8 wishlist        suggestions and requests for new features.

Please select a severity level: [normal] 8 

As given above how you rate the seriousness of the bug, this is a trial and error thing which one comes to know over a period of time.

Do any of the following apply to this report? 

1 l10n      This bug reports a localization/internationalization issue.

2 patch     You are including a patch to fix this problem.

3 none 

Please select tags: (one at a time) [none] 

This can be important if

a) The application doesn't put language correctly b) There is some issue & you have a part solution to the problem.

Spawning sensible-editor...

The report is now made in some editor.

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
From: bob <bob@ubuntu.com>
To: Ubuntu Bug Tracking System <ubuntu-users@lists.ubuntu.com>
Subject: pidgin: doesn't like me
Message-ID: <20070616134031.5078.45197.reportbug@ubuntu>
X-Mailer: reportbug 3.38ubuntu2
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 19:10:31 +0530
X-Debbugs-Cc: bob@ubuntu.com

Package: pidgin
Version: 1:2.0.0+dfsg.1-3ubuntu2
Severity: wishlist

== Add info. after this line ==
doesn't like me. 

-- System Information:
Debian Release: lenny/sid
  APT prefers gutsy-updates
  APT policy: (500, 'gutsy-updates'), (500, 'gutsy-security'), (500, 'gutsy-proposed'), (500, 'gutsy-backports'), (500, 'gutsy')
Architecture: i386 (i686)

Kernel: Linux 2.6.22-6-generic (SMP w/1 CPU core)
Locale: LANG=en_IN, LC_CTYPE=en_IN (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash

Versions of packages pidgin depends on:
ii  libavahi-compat- 0.6.19-2ubuntu1         Avahi Howl compatibility library
ii  libbonobo2-0     2.18.0-2ubuntu1         Bonobo CORBA interfaces library
ii  libc6            2.5-11ubuntu1           GNU C Library: Shared libraries
ii  libcairo2        1.4.6-1.1               The Cairo 2D vector graphics libra
ii  libdbus-1-3      1.0.2-5ubuntu1          simple interprocess messaging syst
ii  libdbus-glib-1-2 0.73-2                  simple interprocess messaging syst
ii  libebook1.2-9    1.11.3-0ubuntu1         Client library for evolution addre
ii  libedata-book1.2 1.11.3-0ubuntu1         Backend library for evolution addr
ii  libedataserver1. 1.11.3-0ubuntu1         Utility library for evolution data
ii  libfontconfig1   2.4.2-1.2ubuntu1        generic font configuration library
ii  libgconf2-4      2.18.0.1-3ubuntu1       GNOME configuration database syste
ii  libglib2.0-0     2.13.4-0ubuntu1         The GLib library of C routines
ii  libgnome2-0      2.18.0-4ubuntu2         The GNOME 2 library - runtime file
ii  libgstreamer0.10 0.10.13-2ubuntu1        Core GStreamer libraries and eleme
ii  libgtk2.0-0      2.11.2-0ubuntu2         The GTK+ graphical user interface 
ii  libgtkspell0     2.0.10-3                a spell-checking addon for GTK's T
ii  libice6          2:1.0.3-1build1         X11 Inter-Client Exchange library
ii  liblaunchpad-int 0.1.13                  library for launchpad integration
ii  libmeanwhile1    1.0.2-3                 open implementation of the Lotus S
ii  libncursesw5     5.6-3ubuntu1            Shared libraries for terminal hand
ii  libnm-glib0      0.6.4-6ubuntu7          network management framework (GLib
ii  libnspr4-0d      4.6.6-3                 NetScape Portable Runtime Library
ii  libnss3-0d       3.11.5-3                Network Security Service libraries
ii  liborbit2        1:2.14.7-0.1            libraries for ORBit2 - a CORBA ORB
ii  libpango1.0-0    1.17.2-0ubuntu1         Layout and rendering of internatio
ii  libperl5.8       5.8.8-7build1           Shared Perl library
ii  libpopt0         1.10-3build1            lib for parsing cmdline parameters
ii  libsasl2-2       2.1.22.dfsg1-9ubuntu1   Authentication abstraction library
ii  libsasl2-modules 2.1.22.dfsg1-9ubuntu1   Pluggable Authentication Modules f
ii  libsm6           2:1.0.3-1               X11 Session Management library
ii  libstartup-notif 0.9-1                   library for program launch feedbac
ii  libx11-6         2:1.1.1-1ubuntu3        X11 client-side library
ii  libxcursor1      1:1.1.8-2               X cursor management library
ii  libxext6         2:1.0.3-1build1         X11 miscellaneous extension librar
ii  libxfixes3       1:4.0.3-2               X11 miscellaneous 'fixes' extensio
ii  libxi6           2:1.1.0-1build1         X11 Input extension library
ii  libxinerama1     2:1.0.1-4build1         X11 Xinerama extension library
ii  libxml2          2.6.28.dfsg-1ubuntu1    GNOME XML library
ii  libxrandr2       2:1.2.1-1               X11 RandR extension library
ii  libxrender1      1:0.9.2-1               X Rendering Extension client libra
ii  libxss1          1:1.1.2-1               X11 Screen Saver extension library
ii  pidgin-data      1:2.0.0+dfsg.1-3ubuntu2 multi-protocol instant messaging c

Versions of packages pidgin recommends:
ii  gstreamer0.10-plugins-b 0.10.13-2ubuntu1 GStreamer plugins from the "base" 
ii  gstreamer0.10-plugins-g 0.10.5-5ubuntu2  GStreamer plugins from the "good" 
ii  python-dbus             0.81.1-1ubuntu1  simple interprocess messaging syst

-- no debconf information

As can be seen there is a line saying add info. after this line. If you want to elaborate on the issue you are facing, this is the place to do it.

Sending the Bug Report

Now there are 2 ways one can send the bug-report. One way is to use an MTA (Mail Transfer Agent), the other is to copy & paste the above report in your mail account & send it to submit@bugs.debian.org

After sometime you will get an acknowledgement from debian something similar to this.

        from            Debian Bug Tracking System <owner@bugs.debian.org>                
        reply-to                429222@bugs.debian.org   
        to              bob <bob@somewhere.com>  
        date            Jun 16, 2007 4:21 PM     
        subject         Bug#429222: Acknowledgement (pidgin: doesn't like me)    
        mailed-by               bugs.debian.org
  • Now this bug no. is randomly generated, just like in launchpad. The no. is important as all the transactions for the bug revolve around this bug no.

Package: pidgin
Version: 1:2.0.0+dfsg.1-3ubuntu2
Severity: wishlist

doesn't like me. 

-- System Information:
Debian Release: lenny/sid
  APT prefers gutsy-updates
  APT policy: (500, 'gutsy-updates'), (500, 'gutsy-security'), (500, 'gutsy-proposed'), (500, 'gutsy-backports'), (500, 'gutsy')
Architecture: i386 (i686)

Kernel: Linux 2.6.22-6-generic (SMP w/1 CPU core)
Locale: LANG=en_IN, LC_CTYPE=en_IN (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash

Versions of packages pidgin depends on:
ii  libavahi-compat- 0.6.19-2ubuntu1         Avahi Howl compatibility library
ii  libbonobo2-0     2.18.0-2ubuntu1         Bonobo CORBA interfaces library
ii  libc6            2.5-11ubuntu1           GNU C Library: Shared libraries
ii  libcairo2        1.4.6-1.1               The Cairo 2D vector graphics libra
ii  libdbus-1-3      1.0.2-5ubuntu1          simple interprocess messaging syst
ii  libdbus-glib-1-2 0.73-2                  simple interprocess messaging syst
ii  libebook1.2-9    1.11.3-0ubuntu1         Client library for evolution addre
ii  libedata-book1.2 1.11.3-0ubuntu1         Backend library for evolution addr
ii  libedataserver1. 1.11.3-0ubuntu1         Utility library for evolution data
ii  libfontconfig1   2.4.2-1.2ubuntu1        generic font configuration library
ii  libgconf2-4      2.18.0.1-3ubuntu1       GNOME configuration database syste
ii  libglib2.0-0     2.13.4-0ubuntu1         The GLib library of C routines
ii  libgnome2-0      2.18.0-4ubuntu2         The GNOME 2 library - runtime file
ii  libgstreamer0.10 0.10.13-2ubuntu1        Core GStreamer libraries and eleme
ii  libgtk2.0-0      2.11.2-0ubuntu2         The GTK+ graphical user interface 
ii  libgtkspell0     2.0.10-3                a spell-checking addon for GTK's T
ii  libice6          2:1.0.3-1build1         X11 Inter-Client Exchange library
ii  liblaunchpad-int 0.1.13                  library for launchpad integration
ii  libmeanwhile1    1.0.2-3                 open implementation of the Lotus S
ii  libncursesw5     5.6-3ubuntu1            Shared libraries for terminal hand
ii  libnm-glib0      0.6.4-6ubuntu7          network management framework (GLib
ii  libnspr4-0d      4.6.6-3                 NetScape Portable Runtime Library
ii  libnss3-0d       3.11.5-3                Network Security Service libraries
ii  liborbit2        1:2.14.7-0.1            libraries for ORBit2 - a CORBA ORB
ii  libpango1.0-0    1.17.2-0ubuntu1         Layout and rendering of internatio
ii  libperl5.8       5.8.8-7build1           Shared Perl library
ii  libpopt0         1.10-3build1            lib for parsing cmdline parameters
ii  libsasl2-2       2.1.22.dfsg1-9ubuntu1   Authentication abstraction library
ii  libsasl2-modules 2.1.22.dfsg1-9ubuntu1   Pluggable Authentication Modules f
ii  libsm6           2:1.0.3-1               X11 Session Management library
ii  libstartup-notif 0.9-1                   library for program launch feedbac
ii  libx11-6         2:1.1.1-1ubuntu3        X11 client-side library
ii  libxcursor1      1:1.1.8-2               X cursor management library
ii  libxext6         2:1.0.3-1build1         X11 miscellaneous extension librar
ii  libxfixes3       1:4.0.3-2               X11 miscellaneous 'fixes' extensio
ii  libxi6           2:1.1.0-1build1         X11 Input extension library
ii  libxinerama1     2:1.0.1-4build1         X11 Xinerama extension library
ii  libxml2          2.6.28.dfsg-1ubuntu1    GNOME XML library
ii  libxrandr2       2:1.2.1-1               X11 RandR extension library
ii  libxrender1      1:0.9.2-1               X Rendering Extension client libra
ii  libxss1          1:1.1.2-1               X11 Screen Saver extension library
ii  pidgin-data      1:2.0.0+dfsg.1-3ubuntu2 multi-protocol instant messaging c

Versions of packages pidgin recommends:
ii  gstreamer0.10-plugins-b 0.10.13-2ubuntu1 GStreamer plugins from the "base" 
ii  gstreamer0.10-plugins-g 0.10.5-5ubuntu2  GStreamer plugins from the "good" 
ii  python-dbus             0.81.1-1ubuntu1  simple interprocess messaging syst

-- no debconf information

This is the same as before, the only difference is there is no debconf configuration because it is not a debian configuration.

Following up the bug report

The simplest way to follow up the bug report is to go to http://bugs.debian.org/XXXXX where the XXXXX is changed by the bug number given in the acknowledgement e-mail.

So it will be http://bugs.debian.org/429222 for following up on the bug.

Adding, subscribing and closing bugs

To add new info. to the bug send a mail with the bug no. XXXXX@bugs.debian.org:- from above 429222@bugs.debian.org

To subscribe to the bug to know what action is taken do mail with:- 429222-subscribe@bugs.debian.org

To close the bug the same convention follows :- 429222-done@bugs.debian.org

Each action would need to be confirmed by a separate e-mail sent by debian for all the above.

Further reading

reportbug (last edited 2013-12-13 23:23:46 by knome)