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Subject: Re: [RFC PATCH v1 02/26] docs: reporting-bugs: Create a TLDR how to
 report issues
To:     Thorsten Leemhuis <linux@leemhuis.info>,
        Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>
Cc:     linux-doc@vger.kernel.org, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
References: <cover.1601541165.git.linux@leemhuis.info>
 <dc293f6d4f71ea827c861c64e88dfa0316f1d934.1601541165.git.linux@leemhuis.info>
From:   Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@infradead.org>
Message-ID: <8f3fce56-fdc4-c248-05ec-4fda1ee6fc54@infradead.org>
Date:   Thu, 1 Oct 2020 19:32:05 -0700
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On 10/1/20 1:39 AM, Thorsten Leemhuis wrote:
> Get straight to the point in a few paragraphs instead of forcing users
> to read quite a bit of text, like the old approach did.
> 
> All normally needed fits into the first two paragraphs. The third is
> dedicated to issues only happening in stable and longterm kernels, as
> things otherwise get hard to follow. At the end explicitly spell out
> that some issues need to be handled slightly different.
> 
> This TLDR naturally leaves lots of details out. But it will be good
> enough in some situations, for example for users that recently reported
> an issue or are familiar with reporting issues to FLOSS projects.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Thorsten Leemhuis <linux@leemhuis.info>
> ---
>  Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-bugs.rst | 43 ++++++++++++++++++++
>  1 file changed, 43 insertions(+)
> 
> diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-bugs.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-bugs.rst
> index 4bbb9132782b..7bde6f32ff72 100644
> --- a/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-bugs.rst
> +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-bugs.rst
> @@ -10,6 +10,49 @@ Reporting bugs
>  .. inconsistent/not make sense before all patches of the rewrite got applied.
>  .. ###########################################################################
>  
> +
> +The short guide (aka TL;DR)
> +===========================
> +
> +This is how you report issues with the Linux kernel to its developers:
> +
> +If you deal with multiple issues at once, process each of them separately. Try
> +your best guess which area of the kernel might be responsible for your issue.
> +Check the `MAINTAINERS file
> +<https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/plain/MAINTAINERS>`_
> +how developers of that particular area expect to be told about issues; note,

   for how
?

> +it's rarely `bugzilla.kernel.org <https://bugzilla.kernel.org/>`_, as most
> +subsystems expect reports by mail sent to their maintainers and their public
> +mailing list!
> +
> +Check the archives of the determined destination thoroughly for existing
> +reports; also search the LKML archives and the internet as a whole. If you can't
> +find any, install the `latest Linux mainline version <https://kernel.org/>`_.
> +Make sure to use a vanilla kernel and avert any add-on kernel modules externally
> +developed; also ensure the kernel is running in a healthy environment and does
> +not 'taint' itself before the issue occurs. If you can reproduce it, write a

I don't care for "does not 'taint' itself". How about
                                                                         and is not
   already tainted before the issue occurs.

> +report to the destination you determined earlier. Afterwards keep the ball
> +rolling by proactive testing, a status update now and then, and helping where
> +you can.
> +
> +You can't reproduce an issue with mainline you want to see fixed in older
> +version lines? Then make sure the line you care about still gets support.
> +Install its latest release as vanilla kernel. If you can reproduce the issue

Is "vanilla" well understood?

> +there, try to find the commit that fixed it in mainline or any discussion
> +preceding it: those will often mention if backporting is planed or impossible;
> +if not, ask for it. In case you don't find anything, check if it's a regression
> +specific to the version line that need to be bisected and report just like a

                                that needs

> +problem in mainline with the stable mailing list CCed. If you reached this point
> +without a solution, ask for advice by mailing the subsystem maintainer with the
> +subsystem and stable mailing list in CC.
> +
> +If you deal with a regression, bisect it to find the culprit and CC or forward
> +your report to its developers.
> +
> +Security issues are typically best report privately; also CC the security team

                                      reported

> +or forward your report there.
> +
> +
>  .. ############################################################################
>  .. Temporary marker added while this document is rewritten. Sections above
>  .. are new and dual-licensed under GPLv2+ and CC-BY 4.0, those below are old.
> 


-- 
~Randy