mass-bug(1)

NAME

   mass-bug - mass-file a bug report against a list of packages

SYNOPSIS

   mass-bug [options] --subject="bug subject" template package-list

DESCRIPTION

   mass-bug assists in filing a mass bug report in the Debian BTS on a set
   of packages. For each package in the package-list file (which should
   list one package per line together with an optional version number
   separated from the package name by an underscore), it fills out the
   template, adds BTS pseudo-headers, and either displays or sends the bug
   report.

   Warning: Some care has been taken to avoid unpleasant and common
   mistakes, but this is still a power tool that can generate massive
   amounts of bug report mails. Use it with care, and read the
   documentation in the Developer's Reference about mass filing of bug
   reports first.

TEMPLATE

   The template file is the body of the message that will be sent for each
   bug report, excluding the BTS pseudo-headers. In the template,
   #PACKAGE# is replaced with the name of the package. If a version was
   specified for the package, #VERSION# will be replaced by that version.

   The components of the version number may be specified using #EPOCH#,
   #UPSTREAM_VERSION# and #REVISION#. #EPOCH# includes the trailing colon
   and #REVISION# the leading dash so that
   #EPOCH#UPSTREAM_VERSION##REVISION# is always the same as #VERSION#.

   Note that text in the template will be automatically word-wrapped to 70
   columns, up to the start of a signature (indicated by '--' at the
   start of a line on its own). This is another reason to avoid including
   BTS pseudo-headers in your template.

OPTIONS

   mass-bug examines the devscripts configuration files as described
   below.  Command line options override the configuration file settings,
   though.

   --severity=(wishlist|minor|normal|important|serious|grave|critical)
       Specify the severity with which bugs should be filed. Default is
       normal.

   --display
       Fill out the templates for each package and display them all for
       verification. This is the default behavior.

   --send
       Actually send the bug reports.

   --subject="bug subject"
       Specify the subject of the bug report. The subject will be
       automatically prefixed with the name of the package that the bug is
       filed against.

   --tags
       Set the BTS pseudo-header for tags.

   --user
       Set the BTS pseudo-header for a usertags' user.

   --usertags
       Set the BTS pseudo-header for usertags.

   --source
       Specify that package names refer to source packages rather than
       binary packages.

   --sendmail=SENDMAILCMD
       Specify the sendmail command.  The command will be split on white
       space and will not be passed to a shell.  Default is
       /usr/sbin/sendmail.

   --no-wrap
       Do not wrap the template to lines of 70 characters.

   --no-conf, --noconf
       Do not read any configuration files.  This can only be used as the
       first option given on the command-line.

   --help
       Provide a usage message.

   --version
       Display version information.

ENVIRONMENT

   DEBEMAIL and EMAIL can be set in the environment to control the email
   address that the bugs are sent from.

CONFIGURATION VARIABLES

   The two configuration files /etc/devscripts.conf and ~/.devscripts are
   sourced by a shell in that order to set configuration variables.
   Command line options can be used to override configuration file
   settings.  Environment variable settings are ignored for this purpose.
   The currently recognised variables are:

   BTS_SENDMAIL_COMMAND
       If this is set, specifies a sendmail command to use instead of
       /usr/sbin/sendmail.  Same as the --sendmail command line option.

COPYRIGHT

   This program is Copyright (C) 2006 by Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>.

   It is licensed under the terms of the GPL, either version 2 of the
   License, or (at your option) any later version.

AUTHOR

   Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>

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Free and Open Source Software