Re: --with-pkgversion and --with-bugurl support for GDB

Joseph S. Myers
2008-05-19T19:51:20Z

On Mon, 19 May 2008, Eli Zaretskii wrote:

> > +@ifset BUGURL
> > In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
> > -@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
> > -@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
> > -page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
> > -be used.
> > -
> > -@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
> > -@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
> > -not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
> > -@samp{bug-gdb}.
> > -
> > -The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
> > -serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
> > -the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
> > -newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
> > -problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
> > -path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
> > -we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
> > -bug reports to the mailing list.
> > +@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
> > +@end ifset
>
> Why do you want to remove all this stuff? If you don't want it under
> BUGURL/VERSION_PACKAGE (whose utility, I must admit, I don't fully
> understand), then please leave it alone when BUGURL is NOT set. If
> you _really_ think it's a good idea to remove this text
> unconditionally, please at least tell why you think so.

The only case when BUGURL is not set is when someone has used
--without-bugurl, which has the specific effect of disabling bug reporting
information. By default, it's set to
http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/ - that's the effect of ACX_BUGURL,
the default URL is passed to it.

I do not see any mention of info-gdb or help-gdb at
<http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/mailing-lists/>, so I think that part of
the information is obsolete. It also appears that, in practice, little
use is made of bug-gdb and the bug database is the recommended approach.
Thus, it seems to me that the appropriate default is to refer to whatever
BUGURL is, which by default is the web page where further information is
present about information to put in bug reports, and which may be
configured by any distributor to point to their own bug database. Should
we wish to document alternative methods for reporting bugs in FSF GDB, or
to add information or caveats about those methods, I think the right
approach is to add the information to that web page (GCC for example has a
very extensive web page with instructions at
<http://gcc.gnu.org/bugs.html>). This means the useful part of the
information in the manual is the pointer to the web page.

--
Joseph S. Myers
joseph@codesourcery.com