Re: xargs -i explanation not clear enough without examples

[Bob Proulx]

James Youngman wrote:
> Bob Proulx writes:
> > The Debian BTS has an extensive collection of reports on findutils.
> 
> Yes, I've read it.  It seems to contain a diverse mix of 
>  * Irreproducible problems or things that may no longer be repeatable
>  * Problem reports with enclosed patches
>  * Not-a-bug problems
>  * Probable bugs that might well need fixing

Yep.  I did mention that it needs serious housecleaning.  Don't worry
about that part of it.

> Yes.  As far as I know, Kevin has not stepped down as Debian
> maintainer.  Even if he has or does, I don't plan to take that role
> on.

No problem there.  It works well to have a team of people with the
upstream maintainer worrying about the generic problems and the
downstream maintainer worrying about the distribution problems.  But
is it typical of the downstream distribution maintainers to run into
the portability problems.  Currently Debian is supporting 11 different
architectures.  That can shake out a lot of portability issues.

> However, I have access to a Debian box and am quite willing to
> apply patches to the upstream source (modulo issues of size of
> contribution versus copyright assignment).

There is nothing specific about Debian in these patches.  At least
there is not supposed to be.  The actual amount of code changes are
small at this time.  Just tidbits to make the program compile on
different architectures.  And those patches might not even be the
best, just small enough to avoid radically changing the code but large
enough to get the job done.  You don't need to be running a Debian box
or even have access to one.  However, it is a good system and so you
might want one for other reasons.  :-)  In the meantime, let's not
burrow in too deep here.  First things first.

> On the other hand, with Kevin being maintainer of both the upstream
> source and the Debian code, there must be a reason why he didn't apply
> the patches to the upstream code.   Any idea why that might be?

He has not applied those patches because to the best of my knowledge
he has not seen them.  Kevin has been MIA for literally years, since
before those bugs were submitted.  Which is why the BTS is in such
need of housecleaning.  But that is a problem for Debian and you don't
need to be concerned with that.

Here is the last information that I know about Kevin.

  http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2003/debian-devel-200302/msg00089.html
  http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2003/debian-devel-200302/msg00119.html

But as with any bug reports from the net you should be cautious in
applying patches.  They have not been reviewed by anyone.  Much of the
time, I would hazard a guess, that a different solution than the one
proposed is more appropriate.

Bob