[php-maint] Should we ship a php5-dbg package?

[Steve Langasek]

On Mon, Mar 03, 2008 at 08:15:04PM -0600, Raphael Geissert wrote:
> On 02/03/2008, Steve Langasek <vorlon at debian.org> wrote:
> > On Sun, Mar 02, 2008 at 12:36:52PM -0600, Raphael Geissert wrote:

> >  > Given the fact that there are some bug reports filled against php5
> >  > which have useless backtraces I was wondering why isn't a -dbg package
> >  >  shipped.
> >  > IMHO it could help at least to provide useful backtraces on those obscure
> >  > bugs.

> >  > What do others think?

> > I think it's a waste of archive space.  How many of these bugs are there
> >  without useful backtraces?

> A very quick look at some reports: #431044

No backtrace provided, with or without debugging symbols.

The abort happens in code not part of PHP, so debugging symbols in PHP would
probably be of minimal value.

> #440775

Again, no backtrace provided.  What good do -dbg packages do if no one's
providing backtraces anyway?

> #434404

Heh, this one has a backtrace but isn't a bug on php.

> > Is there some reason they don't have
> >  reproducible test cases accompanying them, that anyone who knows how to
> >  rebuild php5 could grab a backtrace for?

> As Sean stated on his message, rebuilding PHP5 with debug symbols
> takes some time, time we should better spend hunting down those or
> other issues.

> Is there any reason why we shouldn't? (besides the one about archive
> space which IMHO is not a strong argument).

It is a very strong argument.  The archive should not be bloated with
packages that no one uses.  I strongly disagree with the idea of shipping
-dbg packages in the archive solely for the benefit of the *maintainers*...

-- 
Steve Langasek                   Give me a lever long enough and a Free OS
Debian Developer                   to set it on, and I can move the world.
Ubuntu Developer                                    http://www.debian.org/
slangasek at ubuntu.com                                     vorlon at debian.org