[Pkg-matrix-maintainers] Bug#949103: default log level is too low

[Richard van der Hoff]

Package: matrix-synapse
Version: 1.8.0-1

I am one of the upstream maintainers of this package.

I note that, since v0.99.2 or so, the Debian package has shipped with a 
log config which disables any logging below WARNING, and some below ERROR.

We have recently had a number of users approach us looking for support 
to resolve one problem or another, but we are unable to help with their 
problem because it turns out that the necessary logs are not present; 
resolving any problem therefore first becomes a matter of talking the 
user through updating their log config. This takes considerable time and 
I feel it gives a poor user experience.

I understand the concern that, with logging set to INFO and when 
participating in large rooms, Synapse logs a significant quantity of 
data; and I understand that some users may wish to increase the log 
threshold to reduce the quantity of data logged. *However* I think this 
is something that more experienced users could do once their system is 
largely working: it is *not* something that new users should have to 
learn to *undo* before we can solve their problem.

In short, I believe the changes made to the log config in 
https://salsa.debian.org/matrix-team/matrix-synapse/commit/9ee4bc38cf88425bd4fe9a70e97439910afb63e6 
are misguided and placing an unnecessary burden on users of the package 
and on those of us who end up supporting them; please consider reverting 
the changes.