Re: [gentoo-dev] Re: [gentoo-commits] gentoo-x86 commit in profiles: package.mask

[Alec Warner]

On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 3:05 AM, AllenJB <gentoo-lists@××××××××××.uk> wrote:
> Peter Volkov wrote:
>>
>> В Вск, 11/01/2009 в 10:31 +0100, Benedikt Böhm пишет:
>>>
>>> On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 01:56:52AM +0100, Friedrich Oslage wrote:
>>>>
>>>> - - you forgot the ChangeLog entry
>>>
>>> `cvs log` is the changelog, i don't see why i should add a changelog
>>> entry.
>>
>> There is the same reason as for ChangeLogs for ebuilds. Users (I'm user
>> too) don't have cvs log at hand at their systems but still consider that
>> it's important to know about changes.
>>
>> Is it really hard to script `echangelog "msg" && cvs commit -m "msg"`?
>>
> In my opinion the cvs commit log and the ChangeLog serve 2 different
> purposes. The cvs log is for developers while the ChangeLog is for users.
> While the cvs log will likely just want to explain what change was made, the
> ChangeLog should explain why it was made.
>
> Developers need to realise that users don't know everything about the
> software they use and don't always pin down the reasons for unexpected
> beviour. Users also don't always read the documentation given to them.
>
> This has been seen recently in the change of default behavior of the world
> set in stable portage is a good example of this. Many users didn't even know
> about the --update option and many don't read post-commit messages (I expect
> because they don't realise the importance of those messages or how they can
> change the ELOG options to make the messages easier to read, for example by
> having them emailed to them).
>
> There are other examples of insufficient information being given to users
> too - the dvdnav USE flag was masked recently, but neither the ChangeLog or
> the cvs commit message give any indication as to why this occurred.
>
> In my opinion Gentoo developers need to do more to communicate with their
> users. This could be as simple as prominently posting documentation on the
> elog system and how to tailor it. Or it might involve posting more
> announcements to the Gentoo website (which would double up and make the
> project look more active than it currently does from its front page).

It sounds like you just volunteered to write an article on elog for
the GMN...am I reading your post correctly? :)

>
> AllenJB
>
> PS. I know about index2.xml - but that doesn't look like it's going to be
> the main front page any time soon at the moment, which is a real shame
> because it has some awesome changes.
>
>