Bug#539781: grub: Please consider using NEWS.Debian instead of debconf note

[Robert Millan]

On Mon, Aug 03, 2009 at 03:03:22PM -0700, Josh Triplett wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 03, 2009 at 06:52:14PM +0200, Robert Millan wrote:
> > On Mon, Aug 03, 2009 at 09:04:47AM -0700, Josh Triplett wrote:
> > > Package: grub
> > > Version: 0.97-55
> > > Severity: normal
> > > 
> > > The grub package presents the deprecation warning of grub-legacy (in
> > > favor of grub 2) using a debconf note.  Please consider using
> > > NEWS.Debian instead.  This would make the note less intrusive, equally
> > > effective, and groupable with news from other packages.  It also makes
> > > it easier to go back and read the news again later.
> > 
> > Hi Josh,
> > 
> > This note is important.  Is NEWS.Debian _always_ displayed?  I have the
> > impression that this is not so.
> > 
> > Are you sure this doesn't require a specific package to be installed, or
> > something like that?
> 
> apt-listchanges displays NEWS.Debian by default if installed.  Nothing
> *forces* the installation of apt-listchanges, but note that packages use
> NEWS.Debian for notes at least as important as the one from grub (along
> the lines of "do this or stuff will break", "$FOO is deprecated", or "no
> longer contains $FOO functionality, use other package").

If we want to do this without undermining the effectiveness of this note,
then we'd have to Depend on apt-listchanges.  Actually, depending on the
phase in which NEWS.Debian is processed, we might even need Pre-Depends.

Are you sure this would be a sound move?

Anyhow, note that this note is temporary.  We'll most likely remove it
and change the dependency from:

  grub -> grub-legacy

to:

  grub -> grub-pc

before the Squeeze release.

-- 
Robert Millan

  The DRM opt-in fallacy: "Your data belongs to us. We will decide when (and
  how) you may access your data; but nobody's threatening your freedom: we
  still allow you to remove your data and not access it at all."