[Pkg-systemd-maintainers] Bug#724668: Please add systemd-journal group by default

[Guido Günther]

Hi Michael,
On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 02:29:58PM +0200, Michael Biebl wrote:
> forcemerge 717386 724668
> thanks
> 
> Hi Guido,
> 
> Am 26.09.2013 14:17, schrieb Guido Günther:
> > attached patch adds the systemd-journal group by default so one doesn't
> > have to create it explicitly in order to add user to it. This makes it
> > simpler to enable users to read all logs.
> 
> I'm merging this bug with the existing one (#717386).

I didn't spot this one, sorry.

> I vaguely remember that we discussed that on IRC, and one concern that
> was raised by Tollef iirc was, why we not just continue to use adm
> (which systemd has used in the past). I don't think we came to a
> conclusion yet, whether we should just patch systemd to use adm or
> follow upstream and use a dedicated group.

I was thinking along that line too and now that you mention too I'd even
prefer it since it wouldn't require any additional setup at all.

> 
> Regarding your patch, you don't need the
> "getent group systemd-journal" guards, adduser is clever enough to deal
> with that [1].

I know but without the guards you either have to discard adduser/deluser
output entierly or live with the:

    addgroup: The group `foo' already exists as a system group. Exiting.

output. Since I like the "no news is good news" paradigm I prefer the
getent guards.

> Removing a system user on purge is another controversial topic,
> especially since we don't nuke any persistent logs (should they exist).
> 
> Also, adduser is not an essential package, so the systemd package would
> need a Depends: adduser.

That's true. I can cleanup the patch if we go down that road but using
adm might be preferrable so patching upstream making the group
configurable would probably better spent time then.
Cheers,
 -- Guido

> 
> 
> Cheers,
> Michael
> 
> [1] https://wiki.debian.org/AccountHandlingInMaintainerScripts
> 
> -- 
> Why is it that all of the instruments seeking intelligent life in the
> universe are pointed away from Earth?
>