We appreciate the bug reports you, as users, submit to the bug tracking system. It helps us improve the software. When you do find a bug, and wish to report it, please:
* Use one of the bug reporting tools: `bug' or `reportbug'. You can set your EDITOR environment variable, and it will use your prefered editing tool. It will write in the proper pseudo headers for the BTS to parse, and it will fill in the version number and some dependancy information. All you type is the report itself. This makes things easier for both you and the maintainer(s) who will read the bug report. * !!! Before you submit a bug report, check to see if the bug has already been reported !!! The bugged package's maintainer must do work to merge duplicate bug reports, to fix bugs or apply patches then upload the new release, and to close reports after the bug has been swatted. It eases our labor some if you don't re-report bugs that someone else has already reported... UNLESS you have additional information that you feel we'll need. So PLEASE, go to the Debian web site, at <URL:http://www.debian.org>, follow the link to the bug tracking system, and use the provided interface to look up bugs on the package. Look for ones that might be the similar thing to what you've found wrong, and read them. If you feel the other reporter did a good enough job, you're done. * If you know how to fix the problem, have the time to do so, and the diff is non-trivial, PLEASE take the time to fix the problem and submit a patch along with your bug report. Your patch should be accompanied by a `ChangeLog' entry or a short paragraph or two itemizing and detailing the modifications. (See: the GNU Coding Standards info documentation for good stuff about ChangeLogs.) Please don't send a patch for the ChangeLog, but send a paste-in of the relevant entry or entries. You will be given credit for the bugfix, and your patch will be forwarded to the upstream author if that is appropriate. Software doesn't just spring into existance into empty *scratch* buffers. It takes time and effort to produce. We appreciate people who help us carry the load. (If you're bored and want something to do, go look up bugs on things, and submit patches... I would be good to check with the maintainer first, to see if it still needs to be done.) Thank you for using and supporting Debian GNU Linux/Hurd! Karl M. Hegbloom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> (Maybe I'm out on a limb... I'm hoping that the other maintainers think the similar way; so maybe I speak for Debian, maybe just for myself. You know how that is. Either they'll agree that I'm right or they won't.)
