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.