Viewing changelog entries on package updates (was Re: changelogs in packages and space use)

[Michael Schwendt]

On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:38:56 -0400, Stewart Adam wrote:

> Reading this reminded me of something - It's really annoying to have to
> download in many cases 100-200MB of packages to find that the changelog
> contained 'rebuild' or some other minor change that might not affect you
> at all. Many people have a cap on bandwidth so it's a shame to waste
> that 200MB, not to mention that time for those on dial-up.

It may be a _required_ rebuild, e.g. due to changes in the compiler or
libraries, and the changelog just doesn't give any details.

What should not happen is what has happened recently. Packagers
rebuilding their packages for FC-6 with just an increased release
value "to keep NVR in sync" with the mass-rebuild in devel, or package
rebuilds for the old dists for just an updated "License" field. I
agree that such rebuilds are annoying (especially when they trigger
.rpmsave/.rpmnew actions).

In general, IMHO, packagers should refrain from doing "rebuilds
without details in changelog" in stable branches of the
distribution. For devel, such rebuilds are normal (although the
packager could also explain the need for the rebuild when it is
not just a trial-and-error rebuild against the latest build env).