||<tablestyle="float:right; font-size: 0.9em; width:40%; background:#F1F1ED; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" style="padding:0.5em;"><<TableOfContents>>||
= Background =
||<style="border-right: 0px solid black; background-color: #DEC4B0">{{attachment:IconsPage/warning.png}}||<style="border-left: 0px solid black; background-color: #DEC4B0">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 =
* [[http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting|Bug Reporting]]
* [[http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Developer|More information]]