GNU bug report logs - #49968
Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: François-René Rideau <fare <at> mukn.io>
To: bug-guix <at> gnu.org
Subject: Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2021 14:27:50 -0400

When viewing an issue on the website https://issues.guix.gnu.org/ the
web interface allows you to post a comment, what more without
authentication. Unfortunately, I am told by ropstat and podiki[m] on
irc.libera.chat #guix that web comments don't actually work in their
experience. If this option cannot be fixed in a timely fashion, it
should not be offered at all. Otherwise, it only creates deep
frustration in users, and maybe even lost comments depending on what
client they use.

The same web interface also, correctly, invites users to instead send
mail to <bug-number>@debbugs.gnu.org — however, the same helpful IRC
users tell me that the mail is manually reviewed by a human moderator
and may take up to a day to show up. This as such is perfectly fine,
but does deserve mention as part of the same message on the web
interface, otherwise it will once again create wrong expectations from
users, frustration, messages sent multiple times, and more work for
both users and moderators.

PS: also, several of my attempts to post comments via the web form
failed with an unhelpful error message when posting "There was an
error submitting your comment!". At some point I conjectured that it
was due to my using an accent in my name "Faré", but one of my
attempts with that name did end up with "Your comment has been
submitted!". This is moot considering the above issue, but may become
important if the resolution is to fix web comments.

Message #8 received at 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: John Kehayias <john.kehayias <at> protonmail.com>
To: "49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:22:00 +0000

(I think the bug title should be "comments sent via issues.guix.gnu.org disappear" as they seem to get swallowed by the server)

I sent a comment just a few minutes ago via the webform, that got the message that was successful. I'll check back to see if it appears later, but have not had it work in the past.

Hope this helps if anyone is checking some logs for what is happening with the web comment suggestion.

Message #11 received at 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Maxime Devos <maximedevos <at> telenet.be>
To: François-René Rideau <fare <at> mukn.io>, 
 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#49968: Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:30:40 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

> [... mumi ‘send comment’ interface doesn't work ...]

Some time ago, I received a copy of the logs and Ludovic
and I found out what causes comments to be swallowed:
<https://issues.guix.gnu.org/49295>.  Ludovic has a suggestion
on how to fix it.

The source code is at
<https://git.elephly.net/gitweb.cgi?p=software/mumi.git>,
if anyone is interested in fixing it, or just disabling
the comment interface.

Greetings,
Maxime

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Message #14 received at 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: John Kehayias <john.kehayias <at> protonmail.com>
To: "49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: Re: Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:46:17 +0000

Hi Maxime,

I took a quick look, but I'm not seeing how the proposed fix works: there is already that line for defining mu-debug in the only file that uses mu-message-send...? (Perhaps this should be sent to that original issue, I can send it again there if that is helpful.)

If there is not a relatively quick fix, I would vote for disabling the comment submission until it can be fixed. Otherwise, we're losing comments with no indication to the submitter.

John

Message #17 received at 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Maxime Devos <maximedevos <at> telenet.be>
To: John Kehayias <john.kehayias <at> protonmail.com>, "49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org"
 <49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>, 49295 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#49968: Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:07:35 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

John Kehayias via Bug reports for GNU Guix schreef op di 10-08-2021 om 17:46 [+0000]:
> Hi Maxime,
> 
> I took a quick look, but I'm not seeing how the proposed fix works: there is already
> that line for defining mu-debug in the only file that uses mu-message-send...?
> (Perhaps this should be sent to that original issue, I can send it again there if that
> is helpful.)

‘the current module’ is whatever (current-module) evaluates to.
It is not necessarily the module wherein 'mu-message-send' is used.
IIUC, every time a (define-module ([...])) form is encountered,
(current-module) is set to [...], or something like that (details
might be a little different).  It works for stand-alone scripts and
in the REPL I guess, but otherwise it's a very cumbersome interface.

This interface should be changed (in mailutils) IMO.

> 
> If there is not a relatively quick fix, I would vote for disabling the comment
> submission until it can be fixed. Otherwise, we're losing comments with no indication
> to the submitter.

nckx has done that recently.  Pages on <https://issues.guix.gnu.org/NNN>
now end with ‘Commenting via the web interface is currently disabled.’.

Greetings,
Ma

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Message #20 received at 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Ludovic Courtès <ludo <at> gnu.org>
To: Maxime Devos <maximedevos <at> telenet.be>
Cc: 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 François-René Rideau <fare <at> mukn.io>
Subject: Re: bug#49968: Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations
Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:03:10 +0200

Hi,

Maxime Devos <maximedevos <at> telenet.be> skribis:

> Some time ago, I received a copy of the logs and Ludovic
> and I found out what causes comments to be swallowed:
> <https://issues.guix.gnu.org/49295>.  Ludovic has a suggestion
> on how to fix it.
>
> The source code is at
> <https://git.elephly.net/gitweb.cgi?p=software/mumi.git>,
> if anyone is interested in fixing it, or just disabling
> the comment interface.

Tobias disabled the comment interface a couple of weeks ago:

  https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/guix/maintenance.git/commit/?id=f8deebe7e9b00db1971ff3d32c78eaef3acb6864

Ludo’.

Message #27 received at 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com>
To: Ludovic Courtès <ludo <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 49295 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, 49968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 Maxime Devos <maximedevos <at> telenet.be>
Subject: Re: bug#49968: Fwd: issue website creates invalid comment expectations
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2025 15:03:56 +0900

Hi Ludovic,

Ludovic Courtès <ludo <at> gnu.org> writes:

> Hi,
>
> Ludovic Courtès <ludo <at> gnu.org> skribis:

[...]

> I pushed a patch to fix this in Mailutils in commit
> a5fb1f4eeb7563bd8519660c452a45afecd296c6, and also submitted it
> upstream.
>
> I guess we could try re-enabling the comments via the Web interface of
> mumi?

Since this feature has been broken repeatedly with nefarious
consequences (silently disappears user reported issues!), I think we
should come up with a test for it, if we want to re-enable it, so that
we can ensure it keeps working in the future.

-- 
Thanks,
Maxim

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