Bug#295391: exim4 configuration generator is on drugs

[Marc Haber]

tags #295391 unreproducible
retitle #295391: exim4: generates domainless redirect data in unclear circumstances
thanks

On Thu, Feb 17, 2005 at 02:06:22PM +0000, Ian Jackson wrote:
> Marc Haber writes ("Re: Bug#295391: exim4 configuration generator is on drugs"):
> > What is your suggestion to handle these files, which are used to build
> > /etc/exim4/exim4.conf.template at package build time and might be used
> > on the target system to re-generate the template on user's request,
> > instead?
> 
> I suggest that most of the the complexity in templating system be
> thrown away.

Which parts of it should be left?

> > > 2005-02-15 15:11:31 1D14MM-0007S9-DJ <= iwj@ncipher.com U=iwj P=local S=261
> > > 2005-02-15 15:11:31 1D14MM-0007S9-DJ == iwj@ncipher.com R=hub_user defer (-17): error in redirect data: domain missing or malformed in "iwj@"
> > 
> > What does exim -d -bt iwj say? On my reference box, iwj gets qualified
> > to iwj@ncipher.com and later an "Unrouteable address".
> 
> I have now deinstalled exim and replaced it with smail, so I'm afraid
> I can't say.

That makes this bug unreproducible :-(

> > Well, Tony is not known for his high opinion about the Debian exim 4
> > packages. I have, however, not received a single word of constructive
> > criticism from him ever, and I doubt that he ever took a closer look
> > at Debian policy or at the Debian exim4 packages.
> 
> Are you going to claim that I'm ignorant of Debian policy or of mail
> configuration?

No, I am going to claim that you consulted somebody who is well known
for not liking the configuration scheme that the Debian exim4 packages
use.

> but what I've seen does not impress me.

That is actually a pity. The bigger pity, however, is that all you can
voice is "it sucks, throw it away".

> > Rest assured that the current debconf configuration scheme has been
> > pretty extensively thought out, and we offer numerous ways to turn all
> > the magic off and replace the magic with a more old-fashioned
> > approach. We are, however, open to constructive criticism.
> 
> I think throwing it away would be constructive.

I beg to differ.

> > I am happily awaiting your patches. If you're just going to curse
> > about our work without having suggestions how to do things better,
> > kindly jump into the next lake.
> 
> I would be happy to update the old smailconfig script to make it
> generate exim configs (and use debconf for its questions) if I thought
> that my patch to throw away the template system would be accepted.

You don't need to deliver a patch. The configuration is completely
seperated, so you only need to develop and upload a package with the
same interface like our exim4-config. It will seamlessly integrate.
See /usr/share/doc/exim4-base/README.Debian.gz for documentation.

I seriously think that having an additional alternative method for
exim4 configuration would be a good thing, as the availability of an
alternative will take a lot of the heat out of the discussions whether
our configuration scheme is the best thing since sliced bread or
whether it plainly sucks. There are people who belive both.

If you decide to go ahead with your plan, please keep us informed. The
Debian exim4 maintainers will be supportive as long as we can keep
_our_ promises.

Greetings
Marc

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