cvsbug Command in Linux

---

---

cvsbug is a Linux command that is used to send problem reports about CVS (Concurrent Version System) to a central support site. Usually, the correct site is set by default, but you can specify a different one if needed.

Whenever you run the cvsbug command, it opens an editor with a template for you where you have to fill out details about the issue. Once you complete the form and exit the editor, the cvsbug command will send that report to the Problem Report Management System (GNATS) at the support site. There, the PR gets a unique number and is saved in the GNATS database. After that, GNATS then sends you an acknowledgment with the PR number and category.

To ensure your PR is handled quickly, you must include your unique submitter ID and the problem category. You can see available categories with cvsbug -L. If your site hasn’t set up your submitter ID, you can ask your system administrator or request one using cvsbug --request-id. If your site doesn’t use different IDs, you can use ‘net’ for this field. The more detailed your report, the faster the support team can help you.

Table of Contents

Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the cvsbug command −

• Syntax for cvsbug Command in Linux
• Different Options Available for cvsbug Command
• Examples of cvsbug Command in Linux

Syntax for cvsbug Command in Linux

The syntax for the cvsbug command in Linux is as follows −

cvsbug [site] [options]

You can also specify the [site] argument to indicate the support site responsible for the problem category. While you can use different options in place of [options] to change the cvsbug command behavior.

Different Options Available for cvsbug Command

With cvsbug command, you can use different flags or options, these are discussed in the table provided below −

Examples of cvsbug Command in Linux

Let’s discuss a few examples of cvsbug command in Linux system −

• Directly Submitting a Problem Report
• Submitting a Problem Report from a File
• Changing the Mail Address for Problem Reports
• Printing the Problem Report Form
• Requesting a Submitter ID

Directly Submitting a Problem Report

If you want to submit a problem report directly from the terminal, you can simply run the following command −

cvsbug

The above command will open an editor with a template for you to fill out the problem report. Once you complete the form, it sends the report to the central support site.

Submitting a Problem Report from a File

You can also manually create a file, add your problem in detail and use that file to submit a problem report with the cvsbug command. For example, we have a file named my_problem.txt and we are going to submit a problem report, this can be done using −

cvsbug -f my_problem_report.txt

The above command will send the contents of my_problem_report.txt as the problem report without opening the editor.

Changing the Mail Address for Problem Reports

You can also change or update the mailing address for your problem report by using -t option with the cvsbug command followed by the new email address. For example −

cvsbug -t [email protected]

The above command will change the mail address to [email protected] for sending the problem report.

Printing the Problem Report Form

If you want to print the problem report form, you can use the cvsbug command with the -P option, as given below −

cvsbug -P

The above command will print the problem report form specified by the PR_FORM environment variable to the standard output. If PR_FORM is not set, it prints the standard blank PR template.

Requesting a Submitter ID

You can also request a submitter ID from the support site using the --request-id option with the cvsbug command. This is pretty helpful in case you don’t already have a submitter ID or need to get one for your reports. For example −

cvsbug --request-id

The above command will send a request for your submitter ID to the default support site or a specified site; if you are not affiliated with the site, use net as the submitter ID.

Conclusion

The cvsbug is an essential command on Linux that is used for submitting problem reports about CVS to a central support site. By filling out a template and sending it to a problem report management system, you can ensure your issues are tracked and addressed efficiently. We have discussed in this guide the basic syntax of cvsbug command along with its different options and a few examples. These examples will offer flexibility and ease of use for effective problem reporting.