Improving requirement error message

Matt Mackall mpm at selenic.com
Wed Jun 22 21:59:20 UTC 2011


On Wed, 2011-06-22 at 15:49 +0200, Pierre-Yves David wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 02:44:52AM +0200, Pierre-Yves David wrote:
> > Here is a reset of the discussion about improving the current requirement error message.
> > 
> > Timing is very tight, I suggest:
> > 
> > - 2011-06-22 People give view about what should be fixed,
> > - 2011-06-23 People agree on a new phrasing for the message,
> > - 2011-06-24 patch is written (before pre-release).
> > 
> > Bellow are points I believe necessary to be covered by this error message.
> > 
> > Issue with the current message:
> > ====================
> > 
> > Lack hint about how to solve the issue
> > --------------------
> > This is the main issue in my opinion.
> > 
> > The user just get the error and have no clue about how to handle it. 
> > 
> > - Having a dedicated help entry may help but it won't be made for 1.9.0,
> > 
> > - linking to a dedicated page on the wiki seems necessary anyway. We need to update new requirement which are by definition unknown by the version that get the error.
> > 
> > Only display the first missing feature
> > --------------------
> > Hiding the full issue to the user might be very frustrating. This is something to fix in my opinion
> > 
> > The goal is to avoid the following scenario:
> > 
> > 1) Bob using version 1.6 try to access repo created with dotencode+generaldelta,
> > 2) Bob get an error --> abort: […] requires features 'dotencode',
> > 3) Bob check the wiki see that dotencode is introduced in 1.7,
> > 4) Bob install version 1.8.0 (may include fighting with IT departement),
> > 5) Bob get an error --> abort: […] requires features 'generaldelta',
> > 6) Bob check the wiki see that generaldelta is introduced in 1.9,
> > 7) Bob install version 1.9.0 (may include fighting with IT departement).
> Refreshing requirement list after Adrian comment
> 
> This message need to:
> 
> * Hint how to solve the issue
>     - With upgrading.
>     - Without upgrading

I think we'll need a URL.

> * List all missing requirement

Ok.

> * Refer to a version issue
> * make it clear that the issue only occurs with on-disk repository.

Is there a specific proposal yet?

-- 
Mathematics is the supreme nostalgia of our time.





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